Monday, 22 June 2015 14:40

Study Finds Heels Weaken Feet and Ankle over a Long Period of Time

fungal toenail2In a new study published this month in The International Journal of Clinical Practice, researchers atHanseo University in South Korea tested the strength and balance of the feet of ten young women of each class from the university who were studying to become airline attendants. As flight attendants in training, they were required to wear high heels to class in preparation for time spent wearing heels on the job on a Korean airline. While compared to freshman, upperclassmen initially showed greater strength in certain ankle muscles while also displaying weakening muscles over a longer period of time. Upperclassmen had worse balance than the freshman in general.

High heels can cause a ton of foot problems and some women just cannot wear them. If you have any concerns about your feet contact one of our podiatrists of The Podiatry Center. Our doctors will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Effects of High Heels on the Feet

High heels are popular shoes among women because they are associated with femininity.  Despite their appeal, they can cause many health problems if worn too frequently.

What parts my body will be affected by high heels?

  • Ankle Joints
  • Achilles Tendon – may shorten and stiffen with prolonged wear
  • Balls of the Feet
  • Knees – heels cause the knees to bend constantly, creating stress on them
  • Back – they decrease the spine’s ability to absorb shock, which may lead to back pain.  Also, the vertebrae of the lower back may compress.

What kinds of foot problems can develop from wearing high heels?

  • Corns
  • Calluses
  • Hammertoe
  • Bunions
  • Morton’s Neuroma
  • Plantar Fasciitis

How can I still wear high heels and maintain foot health?

 If you want to wear high heeled shoes, make sure that you are not wearing them every day, as this will help prevent long term physical problems.  Try wearing thicker heels as opposed to stilettos to distribute weight more evenly across the feet.  Always make sure you are wearing the proper shoes for the right occasion, such as sneakers for exercising.  If you walk to work, try carrying your heels with you and changing into them once you arrive at work.  Adding inserts to your heels can help cushion your feet and absorb shock; you can buy either full inserts or metatarsal pads. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Millburn, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

Read more about the effects of high heels.

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