The Long-Term Risks of Standing on High HeelsHow long is too long to stand in high heels and what are the long-term risk factors?When it starts hurting, its too long and for everyone how, it could depend on the surface they are on. For example, we are right here at the convention center and the floor is very hard concrete below us. So a woman is going to have much less tolerance for standing on heels than if she was at a well-padded, working in a carpeted room with really good padding underneath and would stand up and sit down a lot.The long-term risk factors are dependent upon the shoe design but most of the high heels have very pointed toes so that could lead to bunions and other problems with your foot that may require, ultimately if they are that bad, surgical intervention.