Many women spend a lot on pedicure as well as buying stylish, high-heels. They have a strong belief that their style statement would be incomplete unless they pair that beautiful little black dress or the gorgeous one with a stunning stiletto or a stylish gladiator. If you too have a fetish for high heels, don't worry! You are not alone! You have a large company. However, there is something else that you need to worry about now!
If you continue wearing high heels regularly, they will make you raise your heel, which in turn would push the center of gravity of your body forward.
Wondering what the big deal is? Well, it may lead to quite a few health problems.
Ailments triggered by high heels
- Sciatica: This is one of the most common problems. A nagging pain starts in the lower back and spreads through your leg, calf, buttock and at times, the foot. If you have been wearing high heels regularly, you might already have been affected by it.
- Shortening of the tendon: Wearing high heels may cause the Achilles tendon to tighten. If you wear high heels continuously, this may lead to a condition known as Achilles tendinitis.
- Chronic pain in tendons: The Achilles tendon connects the heel bone to the calf muscle. If you wear high heels, it will cause a chronic pain in the tendons.
- Bunions/bony growths at the bottom of the big toe: Wearing shoes with high heels or that are too small for your feet may lead to bony growths or bunions at the base of your big toe. If not taken care of, this may lead to metatarsalgia, a condition of the part of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
- Hammertoes: This is another common form of deformity caused by wearing high heels. In this condition, one of your toes curls downwards.
- Stress fractures/cracks in the bones of the feet: Worst of all, wearing high heels may lead to stress fractures. Small breaks in the toe bones or the metatarsals may turn out to be extremely painful.
Is there a way out?
Letting go of your high heels may be a tough task. However, with some preventive measures and keeping the following few things in mind, you can avoid the ailments listed above and the consequent pain and discomfort. Choosing low heels: Consider choosing shoes with heels measuring 1.5 inches or lesser. Ideally, you should prefer the heels that have a wide base.
- Wearing soft insoles: This is one of the most important tricks as it will decrease the impact on your knees, thus keeping your feet healthy.
- Choosing Shoes of the right fit: This is an all-time favorite tip to follow. You should make sure the shoes that you wear are of the right size so that your feet don't slide forward or get pinched.
- Wearing heels depending on your day’s schedule – This is a smart trick to follow. It's best to wear heels on those days when you don't need to walk around a lot or stand for long periods of time.
The Last Word
Wearing high heels with certain dresses may help you look supremely stylish. But you should be careful not to trade your health for style.Certainly it pays to ensure that your sense of style doesn't restrict your ability to step or stand pain free. So, if you need to wear flats and avoid high heels completely for a healthy life, you shouldn’t think twice.
