Monthly Archives: February 2017

The Urban Dictionary defines this as “the vain act of wearing shoes that kill your feet for the self satisfaction of looking cute!” However did you know that 25% of your bones are in your feet?  Very few people do but it’s true. What this means though is that it’s really important to look after your feet. The problems go further than your feet too. If any of the fragile bones in your feet become misaligned your whole body could be affected, causing knee, hip or back problems, in turn impacting on your muscular structure and posture.

Interestingly, it appears that nine out of ten women wear shoes that are too small for them.

As a general rule, if shoes are chosen that fit well, and they are worn properly, then it is possible to wear those gorgeous heels and strut them in style without killing your feet! However, heels are getting higher, and ultra-high heels can lead to everything from ankle sprains to chronic pain.  It will help to take a closer look at the problems of the heights, styles, and woes of today's major footwear styles and the various problems that they can cause you.

Culprit • High Heels

Problem 1  • Ultra-high heels are notorious for causing a painful knot on the back of the heel due to the rigid material pressing on and causing a bony deformity that is permanent and sometimes called the ‘Pump Bump’. It also leads to blisters, swelling, bursitis, and even pain in the Achilles.

Solution • Ice, orthotics, and heel pads may provide pain relief along with better shoes.

Problem 2 • Ultra-high heels force the feet into a position that puts stress on the ball of the foot.  At this critical joint, the long metatarsal bones meet the pea-shaped sesamoid bones, and the toe bones (phalanges). Too much pressure can inflame these bones or the nerves that surround them. Chronic stress to the foot bones can even lead to hairline fractures.

Solution • Go Lower. Switching to lower heels will help you avoid problems with the metatarsal bones. The lower you