Posts Tagged ‘ pain from high heels ’

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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