You may not think about your feet that often, way down there at the ends of your legs, but they're an essential part of almost everything you do. Whether walking, running, exercising, or just standing, having feet that are comfortable and well-cared for (rather than aching or in pain) makes the experience must more pleasant.
Wearing heels make look women tall and comfortable but it also imposes stress on the body and gives more pain. It completely alters the the pattern of pressure that is being put upon the feet. Usually body weight from the legs shifted to the fore foot on normal walking. But when you wear heels the pressure is concentrated on the ball of your toes and makes difficulty walking pattern.
When you wear heels the toes are encroached in toe box of your shoes and it causes discomfort all over the foot. The hazards are not only over the feet but it extends all over the body. On the feet the person will develop Hammer toes, Bunions, Stress fractures, Ingrowing nails, Morton's Neuroma and solemnly the result will depict as foot pain during walking. The effects above the foot are sprains and strains at the ankle, Tightness of the calf muscles (tendo achilles) and strain to the knee joint as well. The total posture has been altered and there is an increase at the lumbar arch and induces a low back pain.
The height if the heel will alter the pressure on the fore feet, when the heel is at 1''- the stress will be 22%, at 2''- 57%, at 3'' – 76%. It also increases the pressure by 26%over the knee cap.
If you ask, Does heel alone gives pain on the feet? The answer will be -NO. Even the complete flats also impose strain on the foot. With Complete flats or ballet shoes, the body weight over the foot stretches the muscles on the foot and collapses the arch. It also imposes the foot into pronation and over stretches the deep calf muscles.
So the ideal shoes that should have a heel height of less than an inch will keep the arch intact and prevent us from being suffer with lots of aches and pain in the body.
For Further Information, Contact:
Ms. P. Pughana Ambhigai B.P.T, M.P.T, Physiotherapist, Kauvery hospital, Chennai. 044 4000 6000
