Party Heels, What’s The Damage?
Happy New Year lovely people. I hope you had a fabulous time! I had a wonderful time as it is my daughter’s birthday on New Year’s Day! This year she became 14 years old! Soon she will be asking for her own pair of heels! I know there will be discussions as she does not realise the damage heels can do to your feet. So, I thought I can share some hard truths about heels.
Types of heels
Heels are certainly a fashion statement. You look taller and sexier. Heels change the way you walk by exaggerating the chest, the hips, and the curvature in your spine, thus increasing the pelvic tilt. This is what makes then attractive and desirable, however wearing heels comes with some issues too. They structurally shorten your calf muscles which puts more pressure on the ball of your foot even when you take them off.
Apparently, there are more than 30 different types of heels for women ranging from low to high, straight to curved. Each serves a different purpose and distributes body weight differently across.
Flats (1 inch or less)
They are comfortable, fashionable, and easier on the feet. People like them for many occasions however, most of them do not offer any arch support. The foot has to work harder to keep the shoe on, which leads to toe deformities such as hammer toes.
Kitten heels (1.5 to 2 inches)
They are easier to walk in than high heels and make your legs look longer and slimmer. However, they can contribute to corns and calluses, as well as back pain.
High heels (2.5 to 4 inches)
They strengthen the calf muscles and also make the legs appear longer, however; they can be painful to wear. They can cause many foot problems such as corns, calluses, ingrowing toenails, nerve irritation, heel pain, ankle sprains, tendinitis, hammer toe and bunions.
Extreme (over 4 inches)
They build a good pair of calf muscles and make the legs appear longer. They also tend to make the backside more noticeable! But very high heels put huge pressure on the ball of your feet (7 times your body weight) and compress the toes. They are very difficult to walk in and certainly cause a myriad of foot problems and back pain.
Constantly wearing high party heels results in painful damage to your feet. In most case this damage is irreversible. Is it worth it?
The decision is all yours!
What type of Party Heels are more comfortable?
The most comfortable heel height is lower than 3 inches, good arch support, and a cushioned sole. Ideally you should look for a shoe with a heel that is wide and chunky instead of narrow like a stiletto. Wearing a chunky heel, a wedge or a platform shoe offers more stability and transfers the weight a cross a greater area. That way you feel more balanced, which helps with overall comfort.
They say, “give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world”! I totally agree! The right shoes can take you anywhere so make sure they are comfortable! As a podiatrist, I would allow wearing heels only on special occasions. Whether you have Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin, the truth is that you only have a one pair of feet, but you can buy many pair of shoes!
If you need advice on footwear or have a particular issue with your feet, our staff at Medipod Clinics can help you. Our experienced podiatrists will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.
We also offer a very wide range of treatments such as verruca treatments, ingrown toenail management, fungal infection treatment, heel pain management, diabetic footcare and sports injuries management. I can assure you that we will do our best to exceed your expectations. Our staff will treat your feet with the respect and attention they deserve. For more information and to get in touch, please contact us on 01455 246100. You are also, welcome to visit us at 45 Rugby Rd, Hinckley, LE10 0QA. We will be delighted to see you!
Thank you for reading – Party Heels, What’s The Damage?
Faye Vogiatzoglou
Clinical Director