This summer's shoes, fashion ‘experts’ tell us, are going to be high and pointed, a la the stilettos so fashionable in the ‘80s. But no sooner than high shoes and platforms come back into fashion, chiropodists and podiatrists cry foul and warn of impending disaster. This time, they’re backed up by recent American research which warns that the fad for platforms and stilettos can bring severe foot problems for life.
We invited podiatrist (that’s a foot expert to you and me) Clive Heron onto our comfy sofa to explain:
The Problems
High heels shift a woman’s whole body weight forward and alters their balance.
The height of platform/stiletto heels throws out the alignment of the entire body.
High heels give poor stability and the narrow area of the soles squeezes the foot.
Walking with high heels means changing the way your feet work and your natural walking motion.
Platforms put immense strain on the lower leg muscles.
The Consequences
Obvious accidents - tripping over feet, falling off platforms (yes, you Naomi Campbell).
Persistent wearing of high heels could result in crippling damage to the back, legs, feet and spine.
Muscles are worked unnaturally to give your feet the support they need, causing a shift of pressure onto the front of the foot.
Short term problems include: hard skin developing on the ball of the foot, damaged soles and arches, enlarged ankle joints.
Long term problems include: arthritis of the knee, neuroma (nerves becoming trapped between the bones of the feet), curved/claw toes and bunions.
The Experts’ Recommendations
Stick to sensible ‘flatties’ with no more than 1" heel.
Okay, you can wear high heels occasional and wear them to a restaurant (i.e. sitting down) rather than to a club (i.e. dancing round handbags).
Have your feet measured properly - many women wear shoes 2 sizes too small!
If your shoes leave marks when removed - they are probably the wrong size.
Trendy trainers LINK are not necessarily the answer - many do not bend in the right places and can also result in problems.
Footnote:
The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists have a series of leaflets on foot care
including one on choosing the right shoes. Send a SAE to them at: 53 Welbeck Street
London W1M 7HE.
Taken from the BBC Web site