Dangers Of High Heels And How They Affect The Body

 
The perfect, pointy pair of 4-inch heels can make any outfit amazing, but with this style and flare comes suffering. High heels have a reputation for being bad for comfort, but this barely stops women from wearing them occasionally, with many wearing them daily. Women commonly make sacrifices for fashion, but at what price? Studies have shown that these shoes can be costly in more ways than one, taking their toll on your spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet, while altering your posture and gait. Research has been done to help educate and convince women to take this passion down a notch.
One in 10 women wear high heels at least three days a week, and a third have fallen while wearing them. Statistics show that high heels are one of the biggest factors leading to foot problems in women, with up to a third suffering permanent problems as a result of consistent wear.

What Happens To The Body When You Wear High Heels

Natalie A. Nevins, DO, an osteopathic physician from Hollywood, California specializes in family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and neuromusculoskeletal medicine, and details the common medical issues associated with prolonged high heel wear and offers tips to avoid them. Frequently wearing high heels, can cause long-term issues, because you are continually bending your toes into an unnatural position. This can cause a range of ailments, from ingrown toenails to irreversible damage to one’s leg tendons. Additionally, cramming your toes into a narrow, pointed toe box can cause nerve damage and bunions. High heels have also been linked to overworked or injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and low back pain.
When you wear high heels of two inches or higher, your foot slides forward in the shoe, forcing the toes into an unnatural shape, and redistributing your weight incorrectly. The increased weight on your toes causes your body to tilt forward, so to compensate, you lean backwards which overarches the back, creating a posture that strains the knees, hips, and lower back. This change in position of the spine puts pressure on nerves in the back, that can cause sciatica, a condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness down to the feet.


Wearing high heels can shorten the calf & back muscles, leading to pain and muscle spasms. Any time you wear shoes that restrict the natural shape of the foot, you’re at risk for pain. According to Dr. Nevins, many women who wear high heels often suffer from shortening of the Achilles tendon, as once the heel is pointed upwards, it tightens up. Stretching it again or switching to flats can be very painful and lead to plantar fasciitis. With repetitive wear, you can also develop unhealthy patterns that can persist even when you’re not wearing your heels.

What To Do To Protect Your Feet & Legs From Damage

 
Wear High Heels on Days that Require Limited Walking and Standing.
Choose Sensible Heels Most Of The Time. Select shoes with low heels (1 – 2 inches) and a wide heel base. Also, a slightly thicker heel will spread the load more evenly. Narrow, stiletto-type heels provide little support and three inch or higher heels may shorten the Achilles tendon.

Stretch. Take time every day to stretch your calf muscles and feet, by standing on the edge of a step with your shoes off. With your weight on the balls of your feet and your heels extending off the edge, drop your heels down to stretch. You can also put a pencil on the floor and try to pick it up with your toes.
Make Sure Your Shoes Are the Correct Size. This is so the foot doesn’t slide forward, and put more pressure on the toes. Pick a shoe with a wide enough toe box to allow you to wiggle your toes. Avoid pointed toe shoes styles.
Wear Soft Insoles to Reduce the Impact on Knees.
Alternate Shoe Choices Daily. Don’t wear your high heels all day; and wear more comfortable shoes, such as athletic or walking shoes for commuting to and from work. Wearing shoes that allow your body to move naturally during walking will allow your feet, legs, hips and back to stretch.

Source:
http://thescienceofeating.com/