Beauty, fashion and high heels often takes precedence over comfort but podiatrists warn it could ruin your feet. When it comes to foot pain clear lake ia podiatrists say high heels are causing a widespread problem. One must be careful about their footwear.
The Danger of High Heel Shoes
Experts say high heels can cause any number of ailments, not just to the foot but from the knee down to the heel of the feet.
1. Heels increase pressure on the knees and supporting joints by 26 percent.
2. Bursitis: it is an inflammation of the soft tissues that causes severe pain and must be treated promptly to prevent the problem from becoming chronic.
3. Hallux valgus: a deformation of the base of the big toe, which causes the toe to bend inwards.
4. Achilles heel: constantly wearing heels shortens the muscle fibers in the calves and creates a thickening of the heel.
5. Metatarsalgia: it is a pain in the sole of the foot, which can derive from the constant wearing of high-heeled shoes.
The stress from those fashionable shoes can also cause unsightly corns, ingrown toe nails, and athlete’s feet. Because toes are tightly compressed into high heel shoes, the forefront of the toes sweat, and that’s where bacteria thrive; in warm, moist, compressed areas.
High Heels Hurt More Than Feet
Feet, ankles and knees are not the only ones affected, because even your posture is put to the test, pushing the center of gravity forward and mis-aligning the spine.
A study by Stanford University concluded that wearing heels over seven centimeters can promote osteoarthritis, caused by a thinning of the cartilage covering the joints. The results showed that the higher the heel, the more damage is caused, since the gait is affected because the knee is constantly changing position.
Doctors say, this doesn’t mean you must completely give up wearing high heels, but when you do, bring a comfortable pair to switch into before your feet get tired. Wearing heels all day places your feet in a state of excessive stress, disrupting the bodies center of gravity by pushing the body forward pass an inclination of 45 degrees.
To avoid this stress on the feet, experts say, simply switch shoes with varying heel heights. What is the ideal heel? Doctors say while a heel of two inches allows you to walk without excessive stress, a one-inch heel allows for any movement. An alternative is wedges, and while not perfect, the weight load is distributed better on the whole foot.
To walk with a good balance, the rule is that the weight of the body is distributed on the foot symmetrically: 50 percent on the heel and 50% on the front. Keep in mind, if the heel is 3 inches, the weight moves forward by 60 percent, if by 6 inches, it increases to 90 percent. If you always wear high-heeled shoes you risk inflammation, metatarsalgia, and intense pain in the heel and soles of the feet. It also increases the stress at the knee by facilitating osteoarthritis, especially if you are overweight, and heels make it much easier to suffer injuries to the ankles.
Leave a Reply