How high heels affect your health
According to Stephen Hartman, a chiropodist and the chief executive officer of the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine, heels that are two inches or higher propel the body forward, turning the simple act of walking into an awkward chore.
They also point the foot downward, reducing its ability to flex and absorb shock.
This leaves areas like the knees and hip joints to pick up the slack, which can aggravate and sometimes even cause arthritis.
And the problems get worse over time. Says Hartman: “Left untreated, short-term issues such as corns, callouses and ingrown toenails can lead to long-term problems such as hammertoes, bunions and ‘pump bumps’ [a bony bump at the back of your heel, caused by shoes rubbing the bone]. They can also lead to issues with knee, hip and back pain, and osteoarthritis.”
And high-heel wearers may experience pain even when they wear flats. According to Hartman, women who wear heels for many consecutive years can develop a physiologically shorter Achilles tendon that results in the inability of the heel to fully touch the ground.
The benefits of heels
They give shape to your calf muscles and elongate the look of legs to make you appear longer and leaner.
Wearing high heels may even improve your pelvic floor muscles: Researchers at Italy’s University of Verona studied 66 women under age 50 who wore shoes with an almost three-inch heel.
The study found this placed their pelvic muscles in an optimum position to contract and strengthen.
Credits:http://www.besthealthmag.ca/look-great/beauty/high-heels-and-your-health
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