High Heels And Health: The Lowdown

Could the evergreen fashion for high heels be a health concern? We take a look

The rise of the high heel

There’s no doubt about it, the high heel holds an elevated place in the fashion world – and unlike some of the more fast-passing fads the fashion world seems to throw up, high heels are here to stay. Maybe it’s the extra height they provide, their way of elongating the figure in a visually enhancing way or maybe it’s the alluring design. Whatever it is, the individual who invented them must have had little idea the massive and enduring success this form of footwear was going to enjoy.

These days, it seems that high heels have gone from mere popularity to iconic status. The bigger high fashion brands are talked about in the excited and reverential tones once reserved only for Hollywood A list actors. And it’s a love affair that’s not showing any sign of fading any time soon.

High heels and health

One of the benefits of fashion that’s not often talked about is the health benefit. Looking good has a powerful effect on our self-esteem, and feeling good no doubt provides the immune system with a boost too. All of which helps us perform better in the workplace, and get the most out of our social lives too.

But is there a health price to pay for high heels? In a recent article on musculoskeletal health by AXA PPP healthcare doctors, the subject is discussed in some depth from the point of view of the health risks posed by this type of footwear. As the authors point out, high heels ‘seem to be getting higher by the year’. In fact we’ve all probably seen people picking their way down a city street in heels so high that they’d previously only have been seen in an avant-garde fashion shoot.

So, what are the potential health risks of high heels? According to the article, part of the problem is the way that this type of heel changes the way weight is distributed, with one of the effects being an ’unnatural loading’ on the front part of the foot, which can potentially be responsible for a range of health issues, including the following:

• Hammer toes. (Boots WebMD says that ‘too tight, too short or too pointy’ shoes are a cause, with pointy high heeled shoes putting pressure on the toes that they describe as ‘particularly severe’.
• Knee and back pain due to the altered posture the shoes make the wearer adopt
• Bunions

The solution?

As with all things, it seems moderation is the key.  The authors of the article recommend keeping high heels for special occasions rather than wearing them all the time as this will reduce the health effects that high heels can cause.

There’s also a variety of recommendations from the doctors which include paying attention to your overall bodily posture and muscle tone, using protective products such as callous and shock absorbing pads, as well as stretching exercises for the Achilles on taking the shoes off.

About the author: 

Jenny J. Is a health and well-being blogger - more health news on Twitter here.

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