DIAMONDS may be a girl?s best friend, but her shoes are her constant companion, her most trusty confidante and a really dependable morale booster. Putting on that pair of 5-inch heels not only adds height but also gives an extra boost of confidence. You not only look taller, you also feel just a teensy bit sexier. (High heels give the feet an upthrust angle that in turn boosts up the derriere).

But trust even the fairy godmother to ground you before the clock strikes midnight. Already there are health warnings about how wearing high heels can ruin your legs and feet in the long run. Does feeling sexy today mean damaged bones and strung out muscles tomorrow?

Dr. RJ Villanueva, a Rehabilitation Medicine specialist, says otherwise. ?Wearing heels can also be good because the gastronemius muscles in the calves are quieted down during the walking phase.? This can actually make legs sexier and shapelier.

?When you?re wearing flats, these muscles start working harder.?

High heels can also benefit women who are flat-footed, as the heels create an arch that can correct the position of the feet and help straighten the knees.

But there?s a caveat, cautions Villanueva: ?One to three inches are the good height for heels; anything higher can have negative effects.?

After wearing high heels the whole day, the calf muscles tend to hurt because they have been shortened. It?s important to stretch the legs after removing your shoes, adds the doctor.

?Wearing high heels often can also cause a strain on your lower back,? says Villanueva. The higher the heels that you wear, the more you extend the curve of your back. To compensate for the pain and damage this may cause, do some back extension or leg extension exercises.?

Villanueva has advice for those whose job involves standing around all day: it?s better to wear shoes with a low heel than flats, because wearing flats will actually make your feet more uncomfortable.

Are there styles of high-heeled shoes that can actually be good for the feet?

Villanueva suggests wearing some of the newer footwear styles that don?t have thoroughly flat uppers. Try a platform-style pair that gives a roller effect when you walk, causing less strain on the balls of the feet.

Yes, high heels can be sexy and make women feel like they tower over the world. But they can also hurt your body if you wear them too often or wear them too high. Here are a few tips to make sure you can feel tall without crashing:

1. Do core strengthening exercises to help decrease the stress from high heeled shoes. The exercises will help you with any back pain, knee pain and foot pain that are caused by the instability of standing on high heels.

2. If at all possible, wear thicker heels. Chunky heels are more stable than those slim and sexy stilettos. Even platform or wedge shoes are better!

3. As much as possible, avoid pointy-toed high heels. Choose the more rounded or square-toed styles. This will lessen the pressure on your toes.

4. This may sound funny but women tend to ignore this basic rule: buy shoes that fit! Try them on and walk around for a few minutes before you buy that pair. Adding or losing just a few pounds may change your shoe size.

5. Shoes won?t really stretch that much when you ?break them in? so wear a wider shoe than you think you need.

6. Backless shoes will force your toes to claw as you walk. This will strain your muscles if the shoes are worn for a long period. It?s best to limit wearing those styles to special occasions.

7. If you?re not used to wearing high heels, it?s best to practice wearing them around the house for a few days. This will help your legs, feet and back get used to the new height and may help you avoid any pain while you wear them. Not to mention avoid the possible embarrassment of tripping or falling on the big day! ?