Yes, they are fashionable. Sure, they may help your butt look great in your pencil skirt. But however cute and stylish your favorite pair of high heels are, it doesn’t minimize the risk that they have toward your feet and body. As we’ve mentioned quite a few times in this blog, ill-fitting shoes, or shoes that keep your toes squeezed together for long periods of time can cause some serious issues with your feet. So before you plan out your best high heeled outfit, consider having a conversation with a podiatrist in Dallas who can discuss the risks of wearing this type of shoe. Read more to learn the risks and schedule an appointment with Allcare Foot and Ankle Care to ask any questions.
Joint Pain
You may be accustomed to feeling some pain in your feet and toes after a long day walking in heels, but this can be just the beginning. Because heels don’t have any cushion in them like other shoes it causes your ankles and knees to take the brunt of any shocks as your walk. Also, because the shoes prevent your feet from rotating in a natural way, your feet are stuck in a straight and unnatural position. This results in added stress to your joints and can even increase arthritis symptoms.
Calluses
Not necessarily dangerous unless they become deep enough to put pressure on nerves; however, calluses aren’t the most attractive when you want to wear your strappy heels in the summer. When wearing heels consistently, your toes undergo a considerable amount of pressure, especially in pointed toe heels. The rubbing and pressure can cause calluses to form.
Lower Back Pain
Wearing heels isn’t as bad when you can sit for periods of time (even though this isn’t a great option, either). When you’re attending an event, however, and need to mingle and walk around for an evening, this is causing your pelvis to push forward. This puts a significant amount of pressure on your lower back. The longer you wear heels while standing and walking, the worse the pain will be in the morning. If you’re experiencing any type of pain in your feet, schedule an appointment with a podiatrist for treatment.
Lack of Cushion
Think about the position of your feet when you’re wearing heels for a second. Your toes are receiving a majority of the pressure as they’re being pushed into the front of the shoe, which takes pressure off of your heel. In flat shoes, this pressure would be distributed throughout the foot. Over time, this can cause an imbalance and can actually wear away the natural padding on the ball of your foot. Without this natural padding, wearing heels can become painful.
Ingrown Toenails
The line of your toes do have an angle to them, but when you look at the shape of a heel, there’s not much space to fit all of your toes. Your little and big toes get the most pressure and this can eventually cause the nails of these toes to grow inward. When left untreated ingrown toenails can cause infections.
If you simply can’t part with your heels, consider these tips:
- Wear platform heels instead.
- Choose a brand that offers comfort styles.
- Only wear heels for three hours at a time.
- Consider a dressier flat with studs or lace.
- Use orthopedic pads that will add comfort and support.
The podiatrists at AllCare Foot and Ankle Care want to educate our patients so that they can make safe footwear decisions. We understand that heels can look good, but when they’re potentially causing serious harm to your feet, is it worth it? If you have any questions about which footwear is best for your feet, give our podiatry office a call today.
