Are high heels bad for your feet?
I have a confession to make. I am a podiatrist and I love to wear high heels. Wearing high heels can cause reversible and irreversible damage to the feet, legs and spine. As Christian Louboutin honestly commented – “high heels are pleasure with pain”.
High heels come at a cost. So, is all of that leg-lengthening, butt-lifting and height-enhancing really worth it?
The reversible damage to feet caused by high heels
Lets ease ourselves in by talking about the reversible damage that can occur:
- Inflammation of the big toe joint (sesamoiditis)
- Neuroma- thickening of the nerves in the ball of the foot, causing a shooting pain in the ball of the foot and toes
- Corns and callouses- hard skin that develops on the sole of the foot and little toes due to pressure
- Achilles tendon and calf pain- caused by the shortening of the calf while the foot is in a downward position
- Headaches
- Ingrowing toenails due to pressure from the tight shoe toe box
The irreversible damage to feet caused by high heels
Now for the potentially irreversible damage:
- Bunions – the formation of a painful lump protruding out of the big toe joint
- Osteoarthritis in the big toe joint, other toe joints, midfoot and ankle. Also in the knee, hip and lower back. Osteoarthritis in one joint usually increases the risk of osteoarthritis in adjacent joints.
- Lower back pain – high heels accentuate lower back curvature causing compression of the lumbar discs
Protecting your precious feet from high heel damage
So what are some tricks to reduce the likelihood of doing such damage to our precious feet?
- Rotate your shoes: Do not wear the same shoes every day. Vary the style, heel height and toe box shape.
- Stretch your calf muscles daily
- Only wear high heels when necessary. Avoid walking or standing in them for long periods of time. If you sit at a desk all day, take them off so they are not cramped up for hours.
- Improve your core strength. This will help to improve your postural awareness and reduce strain on your back. This can be done by attending Pilates classes or by having a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist tailor a plan for you.
- See your Performance Podiatry high heel foot expert. There are lots of simple tricks we can help you with, to reduce strain and forces on your feet. For example, padding and foot mobilisation therapy
- At Performance Podiatry we use prefabricated high heel orthotics that are adhesive and very comfortable. They can be moved from shoe to shoe and reduce your risk of ankle sprain. They also prevent the balls of your feet from burning by stabilising your toes and allowing your toes to work better inside your shoe.
Foot or leg pain? Make a podiatrist appointment to treatment.
Our highly qualified and experienced podiatrists are experts in biomechanics and it’s our philosophy that the finest foot care requires an entirely bespoke experience. That’s why we are dedicated to providing entirely tailor-made diagnosis and treatment services that are the best in Australia.
Our dynamic practice has a holistic approach to resolving foot complaints.
From assessment and diagnosis to extraordinary treatment, every step of your journey with us will deliver you the ultimate podiatric experience, resulting in healthier and happier feet.
Book a consultation with our podiatrists in Sydney (Macquarie St), Darlinghurst and Randwick to discuss your condition and we’ll get you pain-free and back to full function as smoothly and quickly as possible, so you can return to the activities and life you love.
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The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.