Over time, wearing high heels can lead to health problems from back pain and bunions to an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis! Find out what you can do to give your feet a break...
Many women love the instant confidence boost of slipping into a killer pair of high heels. However, high heels aren’t all they’re cracked up to be!
Let’s look at common health concerns connected to wearing high heels and what you can do to counter the negative impact of those stilettos.
High heel health concerns
- In order to maintain balance, a woman wearing high heels automatically tenses her calves, hips and back muscles – which often leads to muscle cramps
- High heels and pointed shoes put chronic pressure on the big toes which can lead to ingrown toenails, skin infections and nail trauma
- A whopping 64% of women who wear high heels report pain in their heels, soles of their feet and ankles
- High heels put additional pressure on the inside of a woman’s knee which can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis later on in life. The bad news is the higher the heel the higher the risk is!
- When wearing high heels, a woman automatically leans forward and the natural curve in our back decreases which leads to back pain
- With heels, there is more pressure on the soles of the feet which can lead to hammer toes and bunions - lovely!
- Save those heels for special occasions and wear flat shoes a few days a week.
- To counter act the negative effects of your favorite heels, regularly stretch or try yoga to help relax and lengthen tight, tense muscles.
- Use cushioned shoe inserts and heel grips to make balancing in heels more comfortable and stable.