Heels

Addiction to high heels is the curse of the modern woman with heels up to 15cm and platforms and wedges are also holding their own.

However there’s a price to pay for wearing high-rise heels. Achilles shortening, plantar fascitis, metatarsalgia, bunions, calluses, sprains and factures can all be caused as a result of excessive wearing of high heels. Painful bunions, calluses and corns are the most common symptoms of wearing high heels too often - not to mention the strain it places on your lower back and therefore the rest of the spine.

What about wedges??
Wedges are reported to be just as unstable as stilettos. Because of the tapering, wedges aren't really a stable shoe. There isn't much support built into the shoe to keep the foot directly on the platform. Most of the time you hear that people's feet have slipped sideways and they have actually toppled over, fallen off the platform and done quite nasty ankle injuries.

Tips:
Don't wear high heels! The best size shoes are medium height(2-4cm).

Buy shoes with soft inner soles and a good arch support.

Wear wide, deep shoes that provide good support for your feet

Avoid shoes that don't have enough toe room/are too small for your feet

Try and wear shoes that control the heel with a strap, cup. laces etc.

High heels should be kept for special occasions only. Think of them as "limousine shoes" ... from the house to the car to the next seat! They're not for walking/standing/dancing in.

Any shoe you buy should be comfortable as soon as you try it on — it shouldn't need "wearing in".



Resource: published by www.sydneysportsmed.com.au, June 2009
Written by: Niamh Wynne, Physiotherapist