Objective To investigate the effects of wearing high-heeled shoes at different heel heights on ankle joint motion control during walking in women with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Methods The Vicon infrared motion capture system and a three-dimensional force plate were used to synchronously collect kinematic and kinetic parameters within 200 ms before and after foot contact for 20 healthy females and 20 CAI females while walking on flat ground wearing high-heeled shoes at different heel heights (1, 3, 5, and 7 cm). Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied to analyze the data statistically. Results There was an interaction effect between group and heel height on the peak inversion angular velocity and peak inversion angle during foot strike. Post-hoc tests revealed that within the healthy group, compared to a 1 cm heel, the 5 cm (P=0.002) and 7 cm (P=0.002) heels had significantly greater peak inversion angular velocity within 200 ms before and after foot strike; there were significant differences in peak inversion angle between the 1 cm and 5 cm (P=0.018), 7 cm (P<0.001) heels. In the CAI group, compared to a 1 cm heel, the 5 cm (P=0.002) and 7 cm (P=0.002) heels had significantly greater peak inversion angular velocity within 200 ms before and after foot strike; there were significant differences in peak inversion angle between the 1 cm and 3 cm (P<0.001), 5 cm (P<0.001), 7 cm (P<0.001) heels. There was a significant main effect of height on peak plantarflexion angle (P<0.001), peak external rotation angle (P<0.001), peak external rotation angular velocity (P<0.001), and peak plantarflexion torque (P=0.048) within 200ms before and after foot strike; there was a significant main effect of group on peak eversion torque (P<0.001). Conclusions Compared to healthy individuals, women with CAI have reduced ankle joint control while walking with high-heeled shoes. As heel height increases, the ankle stability decreases. It is recomended that women with CAI should wear high-heeled shoes with a heel height of 3 cm or below.