Opt for footwear with broader heel base, instead of wearing stilettos that cause foot problems, knee trouble and back pain.
There’s no doubt about what a sexy pair of stilettos can do to up your sex quotient. On a well-toned pair of legs, they can be the ultimate seductive weapon. Not surprisingly, women spend hours, not to forget money on acquiring the perfect pair. For the fashionably forward, high heels are more than just footwear — they are a fashion statement. However, winning those appreciative glances from men and envious looks from women, doesn’t come without a price. Unfortunately women are willing to pay it even if it costs them their health.
Health experts across the globe would vouch for the ill-effects of the killer stiletto heels. And unless you are a Kareena Kapoor or a Deepika Padukone — who often sport them only for brief public appearances — chances are that in the long run you may actually end up not only with severe foot problems, but also knee and back problems. High heels also squeeze and squash your toes, leading to in-grown toenails, blisters and and cause foot infections. And it’s wise to avoid navigating crowds in supermarkets or dropping kids off to school in those killer heels, unless you are in the league of a Victoria Beckham. Incidentally, even the noted celebrity was not immune to the footsie problems and it was reported that she underwent a painful surgery to treat her bunions.
According to podiatrist Dr Falak Khan, “The feet are designed to be walked on in a certain way. When you wear high heels, you’re walking just on the balls of your feet, and only resting on the heels when you stand still. Your arches aren’t in a position to properly absorb the shock of impact, so the nerves in your feet will really feel it after a couple of hours. And your achilles tendons will get shorter, so you won’t be able to wear anything, but very high heels.” She also points out that a person used to wearing them may not have any problems in their teen years and early twenties, “but once the person reaches 30 or 40, they will suddenly discover that they have aches and pains that they never had before. They may also discover that they have no feeling in their toes. To add to this, the person will not be able to stand for long periods.”
City doctor Dr Jaideep Mehta too agrees. “Of the heeled varieties, the pointed stilettos are the worst. Wearing them in the long run can affect your back and knees as they take the maximum pressure in trying to maintaining your balance. But women are often ready to put up with the pain to look good. Wearing badly-fitting high-heeled shoes can also often cause painful bunions — a bony swelling at the base of the big toe.”
Doctors reveal that high heeled shoes put pressure on the foot, because of the planterflexed (foot pointed downwards) position that your foot is at as you walk. This causes you to adjust the rest of your body in order to maintain your balance. When walking, your foot is in a more fixed downward position, therefore you are not able to push off the ground with as much force. This causes your hip muscles in your legs to work harder to move and pull your body forward. Your knees also stay more bent and forward, causing your knee muscles to work harder.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr Sanjay Singh highlights the fact that surgeons across the city are witnessing an increase in the number of women — some in their early 20s — having to refer to doctors due to their knee pains and heel trouble. “In several cases the feet also look deformed as the bones try to adapt to the out-of-balance walk and postures.”
“When you slip your feet into those heels, your body is trying to adjust to height and hence causing a strain on your posture. As you keep wearing heels over a prolonged period of time, the muscles in your back are stressed, this does not allow you to sit erect for too long,” adds Dr Falak.
Skip the pain!
If wearing heels are unavoidable, then it’s important to keep the following tips in mind...
- Take off your heels every few minutes and give your feet a quick massage.
- If you are obsessive about shoes with high heels, make sure that the height of the heels is limited to one inch only.
- Choose heels that can prevent the foot from sliding forward so that you can avoid the pressure on your toes.
- Avoid wearing them to places that do not call for such heels.
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