Killer heels

High heels, I'm sure we can agree they can look pretty good -

But ladies, you have to ask yourself, are they worth the potential risks to your health?

I’m serious, they are called killer heels for a reason! Well, ok “killer” may be going a little far (unless you topple over and have a nasty fall!) but the risks to your joints, is very much real.

The position your feet are put into when wearing this type of shoe is pretty extreme, and, even if your heel is a relatively modest 2 inches, the stresses put on your joints can be debilitating.

So, lets start at the base and work our way up, looking at how your body must adapt when wearing this type of footwear.

Foot – The foot is placed into a toes down position, (plantar flexion), which increases the pressure on the sole of the foot. This type of increased pressure, as much as 75% at a 3¼ inch heel, can lead to deformities such as hammer toes and bunions. This position also increases the outward turn of the foot, supination, which strains the Achilles tendon as it no longer pulls in its optimal line.

Ankle – In a permanent state of plantar flexion, which limits the ability of the ankle to powerfully push of on each step. The position also may cause a shortening of the Achilles tendon causing an increase in the tension of the Achilles where it attaches on the heel bone.

Lower leg – Shortening of the calf muscle, study shows no decrease in volume but a shortening of the muscle fibres by up 13%, and a corresponding thickening and stiffening of the Achilles tendon to allow the calf muscle to operate “normally.”

Knee – Osteoarthritis of the knee is 2 times as common amongst women than men, there is some evidence that high heels may be the cause. In high heels, the knee is continually in a state of flexion, i.e. always bent, the shin bone is also put into an internally rotated position, the combination of these factors puts a compressive force onto the medial area of the knee, a common site for the development of osteoarthritis.

Hip – The position that wearing high heels would put you in, limits the drive from your feet when walking, therefore other muscle have to compensate. Most of this compensation comes from the  hip flexor, the group of muscle at the upper front portion of the thigh. This in turn leads to chronic overuse and  shortening of the muscles.

Lumbar spine – The spine has a natural curve to it which acts as a shock absorber, taking the stresses of walking and dissipating them to safe your vertebrae. Elevating the heel reduces the lumbar curve because your body leans forward and to compensate and keep your body in alignment flattens the lower back and tilts the head back.

So, ask yourself, is it truly worth it? All the above mentioned potential problems just to give the temporary illusion of an extra 2 or 3 inches in height?

Not really worth it, is it?

*Actual image of a womans feet after a lifetime of high heel wearing...