The Truth about High Heels

As a woman, you may have heard the phrase, “Beauty is pain.” We are constantly waxing, washing, shaving, tweezing, and waking up thirty minutes earlier for the sake of looking good. Although this phrase may often refer to the extra time, effort, and money we put in to beauty, in some cases, there is real pain that comes from our desire to look and feel beautiful. A classic example of this comes from our own shoe closet – the high heel.

One out of ten women wear high heels at least three days a week. Women of all ages and professions put on their pumps for work, class, religious gatherings, or social events thinking little of the pain and more about the outfit. In fact, 42% of women say that they will wear shoes regardless of the discomfort they feel. However, women should be aware of what this pain means and the effects that come as a result of it.  

High heels can cause a misalignment of your body. When you wear heels, more pressure is put on the ball of your foot causing you to tilt forward. In order to compensate and stand upright, we overarch our back backwards. This creates a strain on your hips, knees, and back that can create serious problems overtime. 

High heels also cause muscles to shorten. Neck muscles can tighten when our posture is off, our Achilles tendon can shorten since the heel is constantly raised, and our calf and lower back muscles can experience fatigue. In an attempt to counteract this strain, we may experience spasms in other muscles. 

Finally, wearing high heels may cause damage to our feet. High heels restrict our feet and especially toes to “unnatural” positions. The pain that results from this is intensified from the pressure that is added from the heel angle. Further, high heels aggravate bunions, and can cause calluses, ingrown toe nails, and corns.

It is important that we protect our feet! One study suggests that women as young as twenty-five can have permanent damage from wearing heels. We should invest in good shoes that support our feet and are comfortable. Does this mean we need to give up our heels for good? Not necessarily! Here are a few suggestions to limit the high-heel effect on your feet and body. 

1. Wear different heights of heels (especially low ones).
2. Make sure your heels are the right size – you don’t want your foot to slide forward.
3. Wear heels on days where you won’t be walking a lot, or bring “commuting” shoes for your drive or walk.
4. Use insoles to reduce the impact on your knees.
5. Wear pumps with a thicker heel to give you more stability and decrease the pressure on your toes.
6. Stretch the muscles in your hip flexors, hamstrings, and calves.
7. Give your feet a break. Incorporate flat shoes into your wardrobe and do not wear your heels for long periods of time.

Don’t make beauty a more painful experience! Treat your feet right, and you will thank yourself later. As one doctor stated, "Your feet are, quite literally, your base of support. If your feet aren’t happy, nothing above them will be…Take a closer look at your shoe selection and take small steps now to prevent big foot problems later."

Sources:
Melnick, Meredith. "High Heels: Worth The Health Risk?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 26 Jan. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/26/high-heels-are-dangerous-study_n_1232278.html>.

"The Real Harm in High Heels." American Osteopathic Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/womens-health/Pages/high-heels.aspx>.

"Tips to Avoid Foot Pain From High Heels." WebMD. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://women.webmd.com/features/tips-to-avoid-foot-pain-from-high-heels>.

Walsh, Kelle. "Can High Heels Hurt You?" One:life. One Medical, 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.onemedical.com/blog/health-101/can-high-heels-hurt-you/>.