Foot Pain And High Heeled Shoes

Many people complain about foot pain while wearing heels, but the damage may be more than meets the eye. Are you wearing the right type of shoes for your feet?

In a survey conducted by the American Podiatric Association, 73% of those surveyed admitted to having shoe-related foot pain.  The causes of painful feet range from bunions, hammertoes, corns, to more complicated problems involving the mid and forefoot. Since high heels put more pressure on the ball of your foot, pressure soon turns into pain. According to Jane Pontious, DPM, this pain in the joints in the ball of the foot may even lead to stress fractures over time.

A simple solution to this problem is the avoidance of footwear that causes pain, but sometimes fashion must take precedence.  Experts have outlined a few simple strategies for women who do not want to choose between fashion and comfort.  Among these recommendations include the wearing of shoes with well padded insoles and regular stretching of the Achilles and other muscles of the foot and ankle.  While these tips may not completely eliminate foot discomfort, it may minimize the chance of complications down the road.

If you don’t want to ditch the heels completely, try to minimize wear time, or cut down on the inches.

?Did you know? Research from the Spinal Health Institute shows that 3-inch heels put 76% pressure on your forefoot, 2-inch heels decrease the pressure to about 57%, and one-inch heels lower it to 22%. Small changes can make a big difference.

SimpleTherapy offers exercise stretching and strengthening programs for the heel, foot and ankle to keep you comfortably fashionable. Log in today via our newly launched app and #Progress Yourself!