New Dangers Behind High Heels

Happy Valentine's Day! Women, if you plan on wearing those high heals at dinner tonight keep on reading.

This is not the first time you have heard me say that women need to minimize the time they spend in high heels and to wear heals less than 3 inches. Most of the time I speak on the subject it relates to injuries and problems associated with the ball of the foot and the impact the amount of weight has on the toes.

There is a new study out that focused on older women who wore high heels their entire lives. It looked at the entire leg, not just the balls of the feet and toes. What researchers found was that the muscles and tendons in the leg actually shorten over time due to the position of the feet in high heels. The tendons may actually rupture over time due to the stress. Later in life, the way woman walk changes and hinders their ability to be active.

Dr. Nancy Synderman was on NBC discussing the study. If you missed it, watch the video.

APMA found the following statistics in their 2010 survey:

• Women also experience foot pain in greater numbers than men (53% vs. 45%).

• Women who endure pain say it results in some type of restricted activity (80%).

• 72% wish they were more comfortable on their feet

Next time you think about putting on a pair of high heels, think about how that will affect your feet. If you are going to wear them, make sure you minimize the amount of time in them. Bring flats to work with you and alternate between the high heels. Also, remember to do foot exercises to strengthen your muscles.


Citation:
American Podiatric Medical Association. (2012). Profile: Women and Their Feet. Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/Surveys/2010-Todays-Podiatrist-SurveyProfile-on-Women.aspx?FT=.pdf