High heels may make you feel more professional, powerful or beautiful, but wearing them often can compromise the health of your feet and the alignment of your body.
Bearing The Weight Of Beauty
When the heightened shoes add lift to your heels, your body weight is distributed in a slanting motion onto the balls of your feet. The feet are directed in a downward motion, which destabilizes your ankles and prevent them from flexing and absorbing the shock of walking—which stands to be about three times your body weight, according to an article from Time Magazine. This shock then impacts your knee and hip joints, which can lead to arthritis, as well as misalignment of your spine which can lead to back problems.
The Times article also pointed out this not-so-pretty-picture: In 2004, 76% of American women were suffering from foot deformities—including bunions, hammertoes, pinched nerves, calluses and ingrown toenails—all a result of wearing inappropriate shoes.
The orthopedic surgeon who provided this data, Dr. Carol Frey, stated that feet will in fact deform when they are cramped into a tight space and burdened with unbalanced weight-distribution. It all seems so logical, but we can’t seem to kick our heel-habit.
Satisfy Your Sole Style
If you can’t bear the idea of attending a wedding or office party without the extra heel boost, try to choose selective times to slip on your high heels, rather than paying the price of pavement-pounding 10-hour days.
Flats are your friend, so keep them close whenever you can. Bring your spare shoes to work, parties, luncheons and shows, or keep a pair in your car, desk, bag or gym locker. Think about how much you will likely be standing, walking or dancing before you make a shoe choice, and make a decision for the short-term comfort and long term-health of your body.
Try to find your beauty boost in other ways, rather than just relying on the tried and true power of pumps to make you feel confident and strong. Stand-up straight and carry yourself with intention—body language that is sure to stand out more than three-inches of health-compromising style.
October 14, 2011 at 4:10 pm
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October 14, 2011 at 4:15 pm
wow! way to go in promoting the continued use of these body damaging shoes! How about taking a healthy-footed stand against them entirely? They are not necessary! Women have been brainwashed into thinking they are sexier or “more powerful” as you put it for too long.
At the very least, you could suggest giving up the tiny base type of heels, and go for a less than 2″ heel with a wide base. How is a woman empowered when she has to dodge every grate or uneven surface walking down the street in heels? I guess your way is a weaning or reduction of wear time approach, but any amount of time in those shoes is bad for your long-term health. Ask a Rolfer about body alignment and the huge effect shoes have on overall health.