The high-heeled shoe -- no other shoe has been recognized as a symbol of leisure, sexuality, style and sophistication. The formal invention of high heels as fashion is attributed to the short-statured French queen, Catherine de Medici (1519-1589). She donned heels two inches high that made her taller and gave her an alluring sway when she walked. By 1580, fashionable heels were popular and worn by both sexes, and a person who had authority or wealth was often referred to as being "well-heeled". Nowadays, it's common to see young women wearing extremely high heels, stilettos or platforms.
Researchers recently studied how walking in high heels over time affects the muscles and tendons of the legs and feet. The researchers recruited young women in their late teens, 20s and 30s who had worn high heels for at least 40 hours a week and those who rarely, if ever, wore high heels. They were fitted with gadgets that monitored them as they walked in high heels or barefoot on a 26-foot-long walkway, 10 times.
How high heels affect your walk
The women who usually walked in high heels walked differently from those who usually wore flats, even when they walked barefoot. High heel wearers made shorter, more forceful steps than bare foot walkers. Their feet were flexed and their toes were pointed while walking in high heels and bare foot. When wearing high heels, the calf muscles shortened and were put under much greater strain. Normally, like in the women who rarely wore heels, walking stretches the tendons rather than the muscles, especially the Achilles tendon. It is the most efficient way to walk because the tendons are more effective springs than muscles. The high heel wearers walked less efficiently with or without heels, requiring more energy to walk the same distance as people in flats or bare feet because of muscle tiredness.
The muscle strain that occurs when walking in high heels may increase the risk of injuries, not only in high heels but also when heel wearers switch to sneakers or other flat shoes. After wearing high heels for years, the foot and leg eventually adapt to the position in high heels, making it more difficult to wear flats and to go bare foot leading to heel pain and Achilles tendonitis.
Dangers of wearing high heels
In addition to changes in the shape and functioning of the muscles and tendons of the feet, high heels can cause significant foot pain and other problems. These can range from developing bunions, corns, and calluses to hammertoes, ingrown toenails, neuroma, or excruciating pain in the ball of the foot due to the loss of the fat pad. Not only does this cause pain, but it may also increase the risk of stress fractures and arthritis in the feet. High heels don't cause bunions, but can increase the likelihood of developing one and can exacerbate them if they are present. High heels are often more comfortable in the 20s and 30s than they are as we get older because the feet change with age.
Even with the challenges, many women refuse to give up their high heels. A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed that 42 percent of women admitted they would wear a shoe they liked, even if it hurt their feet. It is documented that almost 10 percent of women wear the wrong size shoes.
Tips for wearing high heels safely
If you plan to wear high heels here are simple tips that can help to make the experience pain free and safe. Pay attention to proper fit of the shoe. If the fit is good and the heels aren't too high, that would be a better type of high heel to wear and it allows more ankle movement as you walk.
Comfort and safety also depends on the height and the fit of the shoe -- the higher you go with stilettos, the more force you put on the ball of the foot, the more unstable you will be and shorter the time you can wear the shoe. Try not to wear high heels every day, instead wear them maybe once or twice a week.
Integrate lower heels into your wardrobe by alternating between high heels and flats or sneakers to maintain functioning of muscles and tendons in the legs and feet.
When wearing high heels for long periods for example at work, try to remove the heels whenever possible, such as when you're sitting at your desk. If you have bunions or hammertoes, consider having them surgically corrected.
High heels with thicker, chunky, heels, like a platform type, are more stable than a thin high heel. Platforms are a good choice, especially if they have the rocker sole on the bottom. It is safer to walk on stable ground and to walk slower when you are wearing very high heel shoes. By following these tips, you can wear your high heels safely and virtually pain free. If, however, you do develop some pain or any challenges with your foot or footwear see a podiatrist as soon as possible.
o For more information email foothealth242@gmail.com or visit www.foothealth.org or apma.org. To see a podiatrist visit the Bahamas Foot Centre on Rosetta Street, telephone 325-2996 or Bahamas Surgical Associates on Albury Lane, telephone 394-5820.
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