High Heel Abuse: How to Have Happy Feet
Did Carrie Bradshaw, in TV’s Sex and the City, have bunions, degenerative joint growth and significant foot pain from chasing men, taxis and even dogs in her six-inch high heels? Forget Big Vs Aidan, this is the real unanswered question about that much-loved series, I tell you ladies! And if some of the most important men in your life bear the names Manolo, Jimmy and Christian – that’s shoe gods Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin respectively, of course – then chances are you love your high heels with a passion, too.
I spent my entire 20s and 30s teetering around in spike and stiletto heels and I’m paying the price now, with an unsightly bunion and corn on one foot – gross, I know! And while I’m so passionate about heels I have no regrets, there are steps you can take to try to prevent your love of high-fashion shoes from damaging your feet. It’s no surprise that my podiatrist – who wishes to remain anonymous, bless him (I strongly suspect it’s to protect himself from heel-loving ladies) – is no fan of high heels.
After a long and tedious lecture about how high heel abuse can aggravate bunions and cause corns and calluses, Mr Podiatrist dished the dirt on how Shesaid.com readers can wear their heels, but still maintain happy feet:
- See a podiatrist regularly to keep feet in top condition. Mr Podiatrist and his ilk will handily professionally remove corns and calluses.
- Combat bottom-of-the-foot pain by wearing heavily padded insoles. They act as a buffer between your foot and the ground.
- Give your poor tootsies a break and wear flats and sneakers as well as your beloved heels.
- Stretch like a runner to avoid Achilles’ tendon and calf pain.
- Wear the right size heel and spend the money to get well-fitting ones. Look for heels with a snug, but not too tight fit.
- Avoid wearing stilettos all the time – thicker heels are more stable and foot-friendly.
- Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses.
Image via flickr.com
