Choose the Right Heels to Prevent Pain

嚴選高跟鞋免生痛症

Many women wear high heels on a regular basis, but it can be detrimental to the health of the feet and the spine. Many women have improper posture when walking in high heels. When wearing high heels, the feet are tilted so that the weight of the entire body rests on the feet. The higher the heel, the more pressure is placed on the feet. When the body's weight is tilted forward, the person is prompted to bend over to adjust and balance. The body's weight is then unevenly distributed, putting excessive pressure on some of the spinal joints. As a result, it can cause vertebral subluxation in the lumbar spine or pelvis, applying pressure to the nerves and muscles near the spine, and causing sciatica.

Patients with sciatica usually experience lower back pain in the early stages of the condition, even when doing simple movements such as bending over to tie a shoelace. The pain will then gradually extend down to the back of the legs and become more severe after prolonged standing or sitting. If the spinal nerve continues to be compressed, it can lead to weakness in the foot, which can make it very difficult to walk. In severe cases, it can affect bowel function and may even require surgery. The pain associated with wearing high heels is usually cumulative. If you experience frequent numbness or pain from the back to the feet, you should have a full spinal examination as soon as possible.

To prevent the pain caused by wearing high heels, you should pay more attention to the design of the heels when choosing. The wedges are ideal for preventing pain because the contact surface between the heels and the sole of the foot is larger. It gives you more support, hence a steadier gait, and a lower chance of ankle sprain. It is not recommended to wear high heels that are higher than 2 inches. Women who rarely wear high heels should gradually increase the height of their heels, rather than wearing them too high all of a sudden. You should walk with a good posture by standing up straight and tucking in your belly. The bottom of the heel of any shoe should be touching the ground and be perpendicular to the ground to improve support. In addition, the heel tab of the shoe should match the curvature of your heel. A design that is too straight or too curved will rub against your heels, or even tear the calf tendons.

The best way to avoid and prevent all kinds of foot pain is to wear appropriate shoes, such as flats, or shoes with a wider and deeper toe box. Avoid shoes with stiletto heels and narrow toe boxes. If you have to wear high heels at work for a long period of time, try to add some cushioning to your shoes to facilitate even pressure distribution. You are not recommended to wear high heels for more than 3 hours, take them off at the right time to allow your feet to stretch and rest. Most importantly, avoid standing and walking in high heels for long periods of time, and pay attention to the posture of walking in high heels, so that your toes do not have to bear all the weight of your body. When not at work, change into flats or comfortable shoes, and do more stretching exercises to relieve the pressure on your feet. You can also apply a warm compress to your feet or do foot baths to improve blood circulation and stretch your foot and leg tendons.