Wearing heels can pull a toll on you as much as they can make or break an outfit. This is because heels can have effects on one’s body for instance;
But women enjoy looking beautiful to work, date nights, or special occasions. Adding heels to this ensemble gives one a more confident and alluring appearance.
According to Dr. Jerry Wasena Angira, there are several cons to wearing high heels.
1. Changing the body arch
When someone wears heels for an extended amount of time, their bodies change how they stand and move, which affects how balanced they feel. Because the body is compelled to shift in an effort to balance the imbalance, the alignment of the body is thrown off and the unnatural stance is used instead of the natural one.
2. Can lead to arthritis
Long-term wearing of heels can wear out the cartilage in the feet and cause injury to the knees and other lower-body joints due to excessive compensating while walking. In order to decide how frequently they should wear heels; one should keep this in mind.
3. Hammer toenails
When someone wears heels, their toenails are pushed into their toe box by gravity. If the box is small, the toes may be forced together, resulting in the unnatural position known as hammertoe. If the box is wider, the pressure between the skin and the toes may result in blisters, thus causing injuries.
However, even if that is the case, when done properly one may still maintain the look, sound, and feel excellent without pain and discomfort when wearing heels. Here are some tips to wear your heels right:
4. Distribute weight
When wearing heels, you have to balance on uneven surfaces that feel like balls and bumpers. One may be forced to step on their toes while moving about, which might harm the connective tissues on their toes. So, it's important to concentrate on spreading your weight evenly between both of your feet. Avoid leaning too far forward or backward because doing so can make you unbalanced and cause accidents. Reduced lower back pain as a result.
So how what are the solutions?
Dr. Angira, who is the Chief Orthopaedics Surgeon and Pain Specialist at St Peter's Orthopaedics and Surgical Specialty Centre, gave the following solutions.
1. Choose the right heel height
Size and height of heels matter. Different heel heights provide varied degrees of stability and comfort. Choose shoes with a lower heel if you'll be on your feet for an extended period of time. When one wears the proper size heels, the toe nails don't get compressed and as a result, toes can be better protected. Shoes that are too tiny for walking might put pressure on your feet, which ends up hurting the toe nails
2. Practice sitting
Sitting in heels can be difficult, especially if the seat is not properly aligned. Additionally, one may not be able to predict where they will sit or even which seats will be available at social events. So, to prevent discomfort, if you're going to be sitting down for a long time while wearing heels, make sure to occasionally shift your weight.
3. Use support accessories
Self-care is one of the best things you can do for your comfort and to help you walk appropriately when wearing heels. Purchasing foot pads with insoles that are cushioned and padded can give comfort and support. Your feet will experience less pressure and strain thanks to these insoles. When the shoes rub against the feet, using gel liners can also help prevent blisters. Another option is to use heel grips to keep feet from falling out of shoes and injuring themselves.
4.Take care of yourself
Regular exercise might assist the wearer of heels maintain flexibility in their feet after wearing heels. To ease any stiffness or strain after wearing heels, stretch and massage your feet. Tennis ball rolling under your feet is another useful technique.
5. Choose a Sturdy Heel
Skinnier heels can be challenging to walk in and occasionally cause pain in the muscles of the feet. More stability is offered by thicker, more robust heels than by thin stilettos. For prolonged wear, wedges and block heels may be more comfortable depending on the occasion one might be having.
6. Position of the heel
It's crucial to choose shoes with heels that are recessed further into the sole as opposed to heels that are located at the shoe's outside edge. The pointed edge heel frequently causes back pain, and occasionally the toe pressure might be brought on by the heel's location. Therefore, in order to prevent pain and damage, please examine the location of the heel before buying your shoes.
7. The shape of the toe
This is one that is disregarded but needs to be taken into account. To prevent any injuries, it is essential to select shoes that fit your leg shape and toenails. Never make yourself wear heels if they are hurting or uncomfortable for you. Your comfort and safety should come first. If this occurs, consider shoes with rounded toes rather than those with pointed toes so that the style will still be on point.
