Even though the percentage of women wearing high heels daily has decreased from 60 % in 1986 to 39% in 2003, a lot of women still wear high heels everyday! Or least to special occasions, dinners etc, and most than not spend longer time in those high heels that the tolerable amount. 77% of women wear them to special occasions, 50 % at parties and out to dinner, 33 % wear them for dancing, 31% wear them to work.
The next day or even the same nigh feet and back pain is expected from overworked muscles in legs, hips and back.
The average woman gets foot pain after a mere hour in pumps. But high heels impact your body beyond just making you wanna sit down.
The Effect Of High Heels
A persons body will attempt to compensate for the off-kilter balance heels cause by flexing or forward bending the hips and spine. In order to maintains balance, the calf, hip, and back muscles become tense. At the end of the day, this makes for excess muscle fatigue and strain. Over time wearing high heels can also cause the calf muscles to cramp and bulge.
Back and Spine
The normal C- curve shape of the back acts as a shock absorber, reducing stress on the vertebrae. Wearing high heels causes lumbar spine flattening and a posterior displacement of the head and thoracic spine. High heel shoes cause you to lean ward and the body’s response to that is to decrease the forward curve of your lower back to help keep you on line. Poor alignment may lead to muscle overuse and back pain.
A high heel shoe places an increased amount o pressure on your forefoot, causing you to adjust the rest of your body to maintain your balance. the lower part of your body leans forward, and to compensate for that, of your body must lean back to keep you balanced.
Anatomical Impact
Daily or any prolonged high heel use over a number of years can actually lead to changes in your anatomy. Teetering on stilettos puts undue stress on the back and knees as the weight of the body shifts forward. Additionally, calve muscles can shorten and tendons may thicken. Spondylolisthesis, or the slippage of one vertebra forward over another, frequently, occurs a result of wearing high heels, especially in the lumbar region of the spine where the body’s weight is concentrated.
Foraminal Stenosis
Foraminal Stenosis is a spinal nerve condition that can occur when anatomical abnormalities block or reduce space in one or more foramina. Foraminal Stenosis in the lower back can cause symptoms of shooting pains, in addition to numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, spasms, cramping, and pain that radiates through the buttocks and down the legs. Sciatica, caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve, is a term that is often associated with this particular set of lower body symptoms.
Weight Pressure
A heel’s height determines the weight carried by the footwear. As the heels get higher the pressure increases on the forefoot, or ball of the foot.
Tips for avoiding impact or High Heels shoes must you wear ones for the fancy party!
