For some women, high heels are a part of their daily wardrobe. The way that heels elongate your legs can make an outfit work just right and give a little vertical boost are just some of the reasons that we are attracted to them. But the sad truth is that wearing heels all the time is not good for your body.
From toes getting pinched (which can cause cosmetic issues like blisters, ingrown nails, corns and bunions) and a lack arch support that can do structural damage, sadly it goes deeper than that. When we step into our heels, it instantly throws off your spinal alignment, causing your lower back to be pushed forward, which then takes your hips and spine out of their natural stance. No matter how comfortable they might be, walking in heels means walking on an incline, which places a lot of pressure on your lower back, knees and the balls of your feet.
When you wear high heels all the time, you may be at risk for pain that could be avoided, but you can learn to compromise the love for heels with your health with a few simple tips:
- Choose heels that fit you well and don’t pinch or bunch your toes
- Try to limit how long you’re in your beloved high heels
- Shorter heels create less of an incline
- Try not to walk long distances in heels
- Carry a pair of flats to change into when possible
- Consider saving your sky-high heels just for special occasions
- Stretch your feet and your hamstrings regularly
- Manage blisters or corns as soon as you notice them
The Health Spine Institute conducted an interesting study where they found:
- 28% of women never wear heels, while 72% of women sometimes do.
- 31% wear them for work
- 71% wear them for special occasions
- 33% wear them to go dancing
Their study also shows that fewer women wear them daily today than twenty years ago, and the wearers decline their use of heels as they age.
The truth is, we love our heels and they are not going anywhere anytime soon, but with “wise wearing” you can save your precious feet unnecessary pain and discomfort.