High-heels - Why should they be shorter than 2 inches?
To prevent foot pain but remain elegant. I also advise my patients to avoid to wear heels higher than 2 inches. Here are 5 reasons explaining why your heel height should not exceed 2 inches:
First reason :
High heels elongate and define your legs. However, the longer your legs appear the higher your heels are, meaning more of your weight is resting on the ball of your foot. The added pressure leads to calluses or joint pain on the ball of the foot. According to the American Academy of Orthopeadic Surgeons, when wearing 2 inches heels, pressure on forefoot increases of almost 60%.
Second reason :
A grasping reflex occurs when wearing high heels to avoid your foot from slipping in the shoe when walking. With time, your toes struggle to straighten, even when there is no confining shoe. We talk about hammertoes and crossed toes. Your shoes rub your toes together, then corns (a buildup of skin), blisters or cuts develop quickly causing pain.
Grasping reflex
Third reason :
The gait cycle is disturbed with high heels because the higher the heels the shorter and tighter the calve muscles. You are losing your natural elasticity on tendons and several mechanical patholigies appear, such as rupture/tear of medial head of gastrocnemius (Tennis leg), Achille tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis… Without any treatment, this shortening can become permanent.
Forth reason : Your posture changes
Heels higher than 2 inches push the center of gravity in the body forward, taking the hip and spine out of natural alignment. Therefore, high heels may increase the risk of Arthrosis, which is sometimes very painful.
Fifth reason :
According to the American Academy of Orthopeadic Surgeons, the altered posture of walking in high heels places excess force on the inside of the knee (a common site of osteoarthritis among women). One study found that knee joint pressure increased by as much as 26% when a woman wears high heels.
Thanks for contacting us. Christophe
Sources : “Women’s Shoes and Knee osteoarthritis” de Kerrigan DC, Lelas JL et Karvosky ME
