Skip to main content

The Pain of High Heels

The Toronto International Film Festival is near its end.  Over the past 10 days there have been many galas and parties. I am certain many people are complaining about their tired and sore feet, especially if they  had to wear high heels.  The stiletto high heel shoe has been a very popular shoe style for generations of women. The popularity of high heeled shoes above 2 to 3 inches has not diminished with each new female generation. Furthermore, some women state once you get use to high heels they are comfortable.  It is quite amusing to hear mothers warning their young daughters not to wear high heels.

My older female patients with foot problems complain they were foolish to wear high heels but at the time they couldn’t resist wearing high heels because they looked better wearing their high heels.
I recommend that regular high heel wearers to start using lower heeled shoes or flats. Unfortunately this can lead to new complaints such as “it hurts the back of my heel” or “my calf muscles get sore”. The mechanical explanation for this pain is that the calf muscle shortens to adapt to the regular use of high heels.
In the July 17, 2010 issue of the Economist magazine there was an article on “Stiletto Stiffness”. The article reviewed the research conducted by Dr Marco Narici. He was able to recruit 80 females that regularly used 2 inch high heels five times a week for 2 years. From this group he picked 11 females who complained of pain while walking without heels. This group of 11 high heel wears was compared to a control group of 9 females who never used high heels.

Dr Narici expected the regular high wearing group to have a smaller calf muscle volumes as well a shorter calf muscles. He thought the high heel wearer’s calf muscles would not produce as much muscle force compared to the control group. Dr Narici found that the calf muscles fibres were 13% shorter in the high heel group compared to the control group. However, what surprised Dr Narici were the calf muscle volumes and calf muscle forces were similar between both groups. The difference was the high heel group had thicker Achilles tendons as compared to control group. A thicker and stiffer Achilles tendon makes up for a shorter calf muscle therefore producing similar muscle force as compared the control group. These results explain the discomfort in the back of the heel and calf muscle that regular high heel wears will experience when they are not wearing their high heels.

Sadly, I don't think this new information on the heel and calf pain caused by the regular use of heels will stop young women from wearing high heels. I suppose, I will hear the next generation of women tell their daughters not to wear high heels.

 

Whitby Family Footcare

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MBT™ footwear: A chiropodist’s view of the “Physiological” footwear.

Over the past year,  I have been asked on several occasions to express my opinion on the benefits and risks of wearing  unconventional footwear such as  MBT™ (Masai Barefoot Technology) shoes , Sketchers “Shape Up”™ shoes and other similar shoes.   I have reviewed research presented at scientific seminars, talked to a MBT footwear medical representative and I have also received feedback from a few patients over the past year who have used MBT shoes or other similar shoes.  In this blog I will discuss the design of MBT footwear and its effects on the thigh and lower leg muscles while standing and walking in MBT footwear.  I will also discuss the effects on ankle joint motion while walking in MBT footwear. MBT footwear was developed in Switzerland in 1996 and came to North America in 2003.  The unstable MBT shoe has been promoted as the original “barefoot” function shoe. This shoe has a rounded sole starting from the heel and continues ...
3 comments
Read more

Wearing flats over 60

Here are some tips for wearing flats if you are over 60. Generally, flats do not have much support and the toe box is narrow instead of rounded. This is also good advice for anyone under 60. https://bestlifeonline.com/flats-over-60/ Whitby Family Footcare
Post a Comment
Read more

Spring has finally arrived don't be hobbled by plantar fasciitis

It has been a long winter in southern Ontario. Most people have limited their walking outside due to snow and ice on sidewalks and roads. The good news is most of the snow and ice has melted from the sidewalks making it safer to walk without slipping. The bad news is that first spring walk or run might lead to heel pain. Plantar fasciitis usually comes on gradually, but can occur suddenly and be severe. It can affect both feet, but often occurs in only one foot at a time.  Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The pain is caused by inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing or burning pain that is usually worse in the morning because the fascia tightens overnight. The pain usually decreases as your foot limbers up, but it may return after standing for a long time or after getting up from a seated position. If plantar fasciitis is not dealt with quickly it can bec...
3 comments
Read more