How to Avoid Pain While Wearing Heels
(PRWEB) April 24, 2014 -- Nearly every woman wears heels at some point in her life. For some, they are a daily part of business attire, while others only put them on for black tie events. Regardless of their frequency of wear, however, most women will agree that heels can be downright uncomfortable. Medical professionals take that observation a step further – heels can be downright dangerous.
While fashionistas may claim the calf-slimming, height-adding properties of heels are worth the trouble, most physicians disagree. Wearing heels regularly can lead to physical health problems and troublesome long-term pain from the back and neck to the foot.
Most of the problems stem from posture. The center of gravity of a woman in heels is pushed abnormally forward, putting the hips and spine out of alignment. This misalignment increases pressure on knee joints by more than 25 percent – and causes many a trip and fall. High heels can also cause calf muscles and Achilles tendons to shorten and tighten, resulting in pain in the heel and lower leg. The added weight placed onto the balls of the feet may also lead to immediate and longstanding pain.
While few women can forego heels entirely, there are ways to minimize their discomfort and injury-causing potential. The doctors and staff at Advanced Pain Management recommend these five tips for those high heel-wearing women:
1. Go smaller: The size of the heel can affect how much pain is felt. Unfortunately, women’s shoe styles have trended toward taller heels in recent years, and typically the taller the heel, the more painful they are. Go for a smaller heel if you can. On the plus side, small, well-constructed heels can actually be better for feet than flats.
2. Flex and rotate: The long-term tightening and shortening of calf muscles and Achilles tendons can be prevented by flexing and rotate the ankles for pain relief when seated.
3. Thicker is better: Stilettos can cause the foot and ankle to wobble around, adding stress on the ankle and foot, not to mention a greater chance of falling. Thicker heels can help with balance and lessen pain.
4. Soles and Inserts: Heels with larger soles or platforms can provide a little more cushion for the foot. Over-the-counter inserts also provide added support for the heels and ball of the foot.
5. Take a load off: Sit down whenever the opportunity arises. Standing and walking with the unnatural posture that heels cause will likely do damage to the feet and back that can cause pain. But sitting in them doesn’t harm anything.
Advanced Pain Management is one of the largest pain management groups in the country, with 30 board-certified/eligible physicians offering the most advanced techniques for pain control. Advanced Pain Management physicians operate out of more than 40 locations in Wisconsin, including metro Milwaukee, the greater Madison area, Racine, Sheboygan and Green Bay, as well as in Mankato, Minn. You can find Advanced Pain Management online at http://www.apmhealth.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.
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Andy Larsen, boelterlincoln.com, 414-271-0101, [email protected]
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