Posts Tagged ‘ high heels ’

Relieve Knee Pain From High Heel Overuse

Oct 1st, 2008 | By Health Snob | Category: Conscious Beauty
Rating 3.00 out of 5

kneemassage4 Relieve Knee Pain From High Heel OveruseWe all love to wear high heels, but wearing them for too long will cause eventual pain, especially in the knees. You can do them in the shower or right before bed time. Your knee is associated with various muscles, ligaments and tendons that create an intricate structure that can easily be stressed. From running to constant bending, the knee gets the brunt of a lot of our movements. Adding high heels only make it more vulnerable to injury and strain. There are four simple massages that you can do easily every day to relieve the pain. Try to do each massage for at least 30 seconds.

The first are to massage is right below your patella bone in your knee. Rub the area right under the patella in a horizontal fashion with the pad of your finger. Apply strong pressure so you can feel the tendon being massaged. The second area is to the outer knee below the patella. Massage that area in short vertical strokes, very similar to the first massage.

The last two massages require larger movements. Always move distal to proximal. To massage these muscles, use the bony part of your wrist to apply the pressure. Start at the bottom of your leg right above your ankle. Apply firm pressure along the muscle. Move the pressure upwards toward the outer side of your knee. Repeat.


The fourth massage is at your thigh. Continue to use your wrist as the method of applying pressure. Start above the knee near the outside of the thigh. While applying firm pressure, move upwards at the outer thigh, along the muscle, towards the outer pelvis of your leg. Repeat.

With these four basic movements, you can immediately feel tension relief throughout your leg. Also remember to alternate heel heights of your shoes so you do not over strain your feet, ankles and knees. Regular exercise also strengthens your muscles. For more information, you can also check out our other article on how to wear high heels without tears.

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High Heels Without Tears

Jun 11th, 2008 | By Style Snob | Category: Conscious Fashion
Rating 3.00 out of 5

High Heels Without TearsI love wearing heels. They are the uber representation of sexiness and beauty, power and femininity. (And yes, you can be all of that with the right pair of heels.) I’m aware that wearing high heels improperly can hurt our toes, knees, back and ankles — our feet are the base of our support, so throwing them into 5 inch stilettos can wreak havoc to our bodies — but I absolutely refuse to sacrifice my beautiful shoes for sneakers.   So to compromise, I’ve done a ton of research on things that I can do to prevent injury while looking fabulous!   What’s the point of having my gladiator heels if I just sit in them?  Below are my top five tips.

1. Find the best fitting heels. Good Housekeeping states that if they slide your feet forward or if you have extra room to tuck a finger anywhere, it’s not a good fit.   Fabulous heels feel great the first time you put them on.   Do not believe the “breaking into my shoes” crap. Blisters are not allowed.

2. Cushion your feet. Products like Insolia and gel pads help your feet absorb some of the shock that happens when you are walking, relieving the harsh impact on your joints.

3. Exercise and stretch your legs, especially your calves. Heels tend to shorten your achilles tendon, so be sure to do some stretches after you take them off and massage your feet to bring the blood flow back. Strength training is also key to prevent injury.   Work on your quads and hamstrings by doing squats and ankle raises.   By strengthening the muscles around your most vulnerable joints, you decrease the risk of hurting them. Even when you are out wearing your heels, every few hours or so, give your feet a good stretch.  Take off your shoes and massage your feet for some circulation and relief.   That will rejuvenate you for another round of dancing!

4. Walk correctly. Heels land first, then your toes.   Heel, toe.   Heel, toe.   Your body was designed to land this way, so don’t slam on your toes.   Practice with your heels and get the habit down.

5. Alternate heels and flats. CNN discussed how switching from heels to flats to shorter heels can prevent injury.   You can also wear flip flops during your commute, and then throwing on the heels once at work.   I usually save my heels for fun occasions, such as dinner or dancing.  My job requires me to be on my feet almost all day, so I wear flats.   Whenever I go out though, I go all out.   Just remember to listen to your body. If my knees are sore after a night of dancing in my heels, I give them a few days off to recuperate. Then I’ll throw them back on for another evening.   This not only gives me variety, but I also get to extend the wear of my heels.

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