These heels add more elegance and sophistication to your dance and allow you to move easily. Using tight fitting, stiletto heels keeps you wobbling on your feet, thereby killing all the joy a good evening of dance can offer.
But have you ever thought about the effect regular use of high heels can have on the health of your legs and feet? Recent studies have revealed that wearing high heels for long periods can lead to serious problems in toes and legs.
According to a research, one-third of women permanently suffer from problems due to prolonged wearing of high heels. Problems such as bunions and hammertoes are common. The high heel puts more pressure on the ball of the foot, affects the spine and the knee.
Why do High Heels Cause Problems?
Sciatica:
It was in the thirties that the high heels attracted attention as stilettos. Although, earlier its use was restricted to special occasions, today, it has become a regular thing. A recent survey states that one among ten women in the U.S. wears high heels for at least three days in a week. According to Mike O’Neil, consultant podiatric surgeon and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists spokesperson:
The moment you wear high heels, your gravity center pushes in forward direction. To compensate this change in gravity center, you tend to lower your back that ultimately changes the position of your spine. This puts pressure on the nerves of your back. This entire physical situation is very uncomfortable for your body and traps your nerves, causing numbness and pain in your feet. This finally leads to sciatica, a very painful condition affecting the legs.
Achilles tendonitis:
The Achilles tendon is another problem of the legs that starts from the heel and runs up the back. This can damage the leg nerves permanently. This tendon is flexible and supports the foot in either pointed or flat position. Wearing high heels for longer duration shortens the tendon, as it is tightened with the pointed and upward heel. Stretching can cause pain and lead to inflammation of the Achilles tendon. Hence, after wearing high heels for a prolonged period when you wear flat shoes, your heel starts aching. It is possible to avoid this pain by using heels of 1.5 inches or less, regularly. However, one should avoid using heels of more than 3 inches or it will shorten your Achilles tendon.
Other Problems Caused due to High Heels:
High heels also cause other foot problems such as:
- Bony growths that occur at the base near the big toe and is caused mostly due to wearing ill-fitting, tight shoes and high heels.
- Hammertoes develop in some women due to wearing high heels and ill-fitting shoes. In this condition, the toes crumple and the muscles inside shorten and bend permanently.
- Youngsters are more at risk of developing such problems as they start wearing high heels even before their bodies develop completely. This can lead to hip problems during adulthood or pain in the back as they grow older. Stress on the spine can also cause complicated back problems.
Precautions:
You can minimize the problems due to high heels by taking certain precautions. Instead of wearing pointed heels, you can choose to wear thicker heels so that the load of your body can spread evenly on your foot.
Wearing soft insoles reduces the impact on the knees. You should also ensure that the shoes snugly fit and do not slide forward or backward.
If at all you have to wear high heels, you should wear them for a couple of hours before going out so that your feet get used to them before you expose them to a strenuous activity like dancing.
