How to Choose the Best High Heels for Comfort
High-heeledshoes are more popular than ever, and many women often ask, "Can wearing
heels really be bad for my body?" Regular wearers of high heels who
experience foot, back, or knee problems also wonder if there is any way they
can comfortably wear the stylish shoes they love. Podiatrists and orthopedic
specialists often see firsthand some of the problems that develop from wearing
high-heeled shoes.
Mistake #2 - Extreme Height
Mistake #3 - Not Enough Coverage
Studies have shown that high
heeled shoes create excess pressure on the plantar surface, or sole of the
foot, which can lead to metatarsalgia (ball of the foot pain),
excess stress on foot joints, and painful calluses. The higher the heel is, the more
probability that muscular imbalances are occurring while walking in the shoes —
causing certain leg and foot muscles to work too hard. These imbalances can
lead to problems such as knee pain, heel pain (plantar fasciitis), and hammer
toes.
Sometimes an occasion calls for a
great-looking pair of heels, but no one wants to sacrifice their health and
well-being for fashion. The following celebrity photos identify common mistakes
women make in choosing heels, helping to guide you toward choosing better shoes
for your comfort and health.
Mistake # 1 - The
Shoe Doesn't Fit
Notice the gap between the shoe and the wearer's heel and archareas — it likely indicates a shoe that is too long and too wide. This can
cause the foot to shift around in the shoe while walking and will surely lead
to pain and discomfort. In this case, she probably chose a style that was too
wide for her foot.
You may
be surprised to learn that your shoe size has changed over the years. A change
in foot size can often be attributed to hormonal changes and natural changes in
soft tissue that occur with aging.
Better
Choice: The next time you shop for shoes, be sure to measure your feet
for both length and width. Be aware that the right size shoe may not always be
a good fit, so it helps to try on a few different styles until you find the
most comfortable fit.
Mistake #2 - Extreme Height
One of the most common problems with high heels is pain under
the ball of the foot. A higher heel means more stress on the ball of the foot,
ankle, and knee, which increases as the height goes up.
Better
Choice: Even though these heels have an extreme heel height and
appear to be too small in size (notice the dangling toes), they do have three
preferable features:
1. Thethickness underneath the ball of the foot offsets some of the heel height, and
depending on the shoe's material, may offer better cushioning than a
thinner-soled shoe.
2. Thechunkiness of the shoe's heel is preferable to a stiletto heel because it is
more stable.
3. Theheel is positioned more toward the back of the shoe, which is more stable than
a heel positioned more toward the center of the shoe.
Mistake #3 - Not Enough Coverage
The only things holding this shoe onto her foot are a tiny ankle
strap and a small amount of material across the toes. As she's bearing weight
on the right foot, the shoe is gapping across the middle of her foot and heel,
showing that there is inadequate support. This will allow too much motion on an
already unsteady, elevated heel. You can bet that long periods of walking
in these shoes will leave you with tired, sore feet and put you at risk for an
ankle sprain.
Mistake #4 - Toe Torture
Seeing the way the toes are squeezed into these pointy-toedshoes is painful to observe. Besides the toes being pushed into a cramped
space, there is an issue with the shoe's toe material not covering enough of
the toes. This forces the toes to work harder at maintaining stability,
possibly contributing to toe contractures, such as hammer toes.
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