High heels dangerous to your health
The idea that high heels can be hazardous to your health isn't new—orthopedists have warned women for years that high heels can contribute to the development of a variety of conditions from corns and calluses to hammertoes, arthritis, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems.
Orthopedists think that high heels can contribute to the development of a variety of conditions like arthritis, chronic knee pain, sprained ankles and back problems. High heels can also result in a variety of foot problems. High heels could be the cause of knee osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative joint disease. The knee osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of the cartilage surrounding the knee.
High heels and headaches: Wearing high heels on a regular basis can cause toe pain, mid foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, lower back pain, mid back pain, upper back pain, and headaches. When you wearing high heels that cause unnecessary stress on your ankles, knees, pelvis, and potentially throughout your entire spine. The compensatory changes that result from wearing heels can cause the muscles behind your neck to be stiff, putting pressure on nerves that can result in chronic headaches.
The Knees: High heels cause much more pressure to be exerted on the knees. The force that causes such pressure is more than what the knees are designed for, and can give rise to a condition called osteoarthritis.
Posture: Consider that when you tip you cause all your weight to be projected towards the ball of your feet. You will involuntarily adjust your posture to compensate for a shift in your center of gravity. This is a similar occurrence to wearing high heels, and it will be worse because the feet will be in a fixed position. A woman will have to bend her spine in the lower back more to keep her balance. Women may wonder where certain back, shoulder and neck pain may come from. Well, high heels are a prime cause of such pain in the torso.
The Lower Legs: The calves will tend to retain the contracted and shortened state due to the feet being in high heels. The calf muscles may become difficult or virtually impossible to straighten without medical intervention. A similar condition can occur with the Achilles' tendon where it too can retain it's shortened state even when a woman is not wearing heels.
Lower back pain and Sciatica: High heels make you raise your heel and as soon as you do that your center of gravity is pushed forward.What happens then is you bend your lower back to compensate for this and that changes the position of your spine, putting pressure on nerves in the back. This can cause sciatica, a painful condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet.
Achilles Tendonitis: Another common problem, is that the Achilles tendon – which runs up the back of the leg from the heel – becomes permanently damaged. This tendon is designed to be flexible, so the foot can lie flat or point. But many women who wear high heels too often suffer a shortening of the tendon because once the heel is pointed upwards, it tightens up. Stretching it again can be very painful.When you try to put your foot into flat shoes you get a lot of pain in the back of the heel. 70-year-olds still hobbling around in high heels because they can’t put their feet flat any more, because it’s just too painful.
Can't give up high heels? If you can't imagine life without your favorite accessory, just make adjustments. Fashion and comfort don't have to be at odds.
Wear Properly Fitting Shoes
-Choose comfort rather than style or fashion. This should rule shoe selection.
-Judge shoes by how they fit, not by the size marked on the box; shoe sizes vary by brand and style.
-Have both feet measured when you purchase shoes; foot size increases with age.
-Fit shoes to your longest foot; most people have one foot that is larger than the other.
-Avoid high-heels and shoes with pointed or tapered toes.
-Fit shoes at the end of the day when your feet are their longest.
-Try on both shoes and walk a few steps to make sure they are comfortable.
-When the shoes are on, wiggle your toes to ensure that you can move them freely.
-Keep in mind this basic principle: Your shoes should conform to the shape of your foot. Your feet should never conform to the shape of your shoes.
-Mix in flats and low pumps to your daily shoe wardrobe. Save your high heels for special occasions.
-Wear flats for walking distances. You can bring your heels to change into once you get to where you're going.
-Take smaller steps in high heels. Put your heel down first and try to glide to minimize damage to feet.
-Try to buy short, chunky heels with plenty of room for your toes. Lower heels usually give you more stability, better shock absorption and greater comfort.
-Avoid wearing backless heels for any length of time because they strain your muscles. A strap or laces over the instep will also keep feet from sliding forward.
-Stretch your calf, heel and foot muscles to help them relax and increase range of movement.
-Treat them to a soak or massage at day's end.
-Lastly, if you suffer foot or ankle pain, see a doctor. Foot problems are harder to treat once they become chronic.
Angela Lind. LMT
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