I heard on the radio during the week that recent research shows that of the two sexes, women are more prone to suffering from lower back pain primarily because of wearing high heels.
Personally, I can vouch for this. I used to run around in 3-4 inch heels nearly every work day. They weren’t quite Christian Louboutins though 😉 After a while, I noticed that I had a dull pain in my lower back area and on my knees. When I lowered the height of everyday shoes to 2 inches or slightly less, the pain was alleviated somewhat. I still get twinges now and again if I try to be glam and wear heels that are too high for too long.
High heels (or very high heels) throw your body shape out of whack. Just pay attention the next time you step into your stilettos or high heels. You will notice all of the following:-
- Body is thrown forward and you have to use your back muscles to pull it back so you stand straight. This puts pressure on your lower back.
- Toes are pushed forward and squashed
- Pressure on the knees
Do you notice these? There are even more problems associated with what you wear on your feet than I thought possible. High heels are known to be bad, and I’ve found that flats without support aren’t much better!
This article from the Daily Mail UK sums up most if not all the problems one can encounter by constantly wearing high heels including shortening of tendons and bunions and hammertoe which could even need surgery. A friend told me of a 60 year old lady she knew who could not wear any shoe lower than 3 inches even at home because her tendons had shortened to such a degree that wearing flats were agony. The danger of a 60 year old still tottering around in 3 inch heels is a rather scary thought.
These days, I rotate my workday shoes – sometimes wearing heels, sometimes flats and I wear heels of varying heights. That way, I figure my legs don’t get stuck in a rut and my back and knees have stopped hurting too. Evening functions or cocktails still call for that sexy pair of stilettos but at least its not something I’m tottering around in on a daily basis.
Are you willing to give up high heels for your back? Tell me what you think 🙂
Stay healthy
Paris B
No, I don’t think so. haha, at least not right now.
But I go for mid level heels that are 2.5″ or less for walking (shopping), school, work. I save my 3-4″ for occasions, when I know I can just walk a bit, sit down the whole day kind…
This way, I actually find it pretty okay to still go about in heels. =)
I know some office ladies who go in 3″ everyday. And I think it’s really tiring if they don’t change out in the office. That 0.5″ does makes a big difference.
Hey Paris! Seems we both wrote about high heels today! I don’t wear heels anymore (been almost 2 years now, boo) as I get these very painful muscle cramps/spasms. I should probably go to the doctor but once I stopped wearing heels the pain disappeared! 🙁
However, I’ve heard that a 3cm (1.5 inch) heel is good for the foot, so I’m very veeeery tiny heels haha.
I don’t wear heels!! only during big functions like what u mentioned… but I can only last for 1 hour max on those killer heels… I already have bad feet… I have flat foot and this itself is already giving me problems… i can’t walk too long or the arch of my feet will start to ache… I have to wear special insoles (which hurt like mad) every single day and finding a good shoe with good support is hard… so I just wear my trusty sneakers/sports shoe most of the time for support =(
Heels are not good for yr back, knees and posture.. wear it only when u really have to… nice article~~
no matter how “unlady-like” my mom deems it XD I still trot around in sports shoes. LOL….oh well =P I’m still 17 anyway, still have a few years to enjoy the privileges my age brings me before I step into the working world and am forced to wear heels and trot around in them all day T_T
But currently I’m happy with sports shoes. I don’t like high heels or anything high in the first place (not even wedges). So I’m determined to get some kine of shoe wear that would be “formal” enough to bring to work when I start to work.
Downside is…I’m SHORT! T__T =P
Lovely article! Gives me another good reason not to like heels, adding the height is just one advantage [to me that is] XD
I had bunion surgeries on my feet at 28 and 29, and have avoided heels ever since. My feet were so bad, they looked like Victoria Beckhams! My orthopedic surgeon told me I had the feet of a 50 year old woman when I was 28!!
I do not regret giving up heels one bit (I also have had knee surgery too!).
I don’t wear heels. I look like a duck trying to cross the street when I wear them so I gave up promptly trade them with sneakers. I do however admire ladies who can walk in 3″+ heels like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I can only wear 2″ below. But most stylish shoes nowdays have 3++ heels. 🙁
Hi Paris, check this out — http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1231270/Bunions-Beckham-Years-killer-heels-left-Victoria-agony–need-urgent-op.html
This was what JC was referring to — Victoria Beckham’s shocking feet! Pride comes before a fall, then …
I have thunder thighs that only heels seem to ease, but walking in heels is really impossible for the feet. I don’t care if I look frumpy, just don’t hurt my feet!
Ah,,,, Nono… maybe once a while depends on occasions !!!
Would I give up heels? Probably not! Love em heels tooooo much…
But I gotta agree on the back pain and those bunions popping up…but only if one wear those heels far tooo long of a time.
My job requires me to stand for hours at a time and little sitting, therefore I always make a point in investing in a good pair and with heels not exceeding 2 inches. Plus, I make a point in performing stretches and some exercises for the foot and ankle especially so that the discomfort is down to the minimum. 😀
I’ve sort of given up on them as they’re too painful for me! i wear my flats to work almost everyday, so wearing even 2″ heels is painful nowadays! 🙁
I hate being short! T_T
haha I don’t wear high heels coz it hurts in no time, but I have a similar story of that above. My mom used to wear (and run in) high heels too, but I was born and she switched to flats and that ruined everything for her. She could never ever wear heels again. And the muscles in her feet were weakened to the point she could hardly walk. Not even in special shoes, like Scholl and such. But about 2 years ago she discovered MBT and wow now she can even run!!!! Okay, MBTs are pricey and not so pretty (some are good looking enough for special occasions too though), but damn, they help the muscles get stronger and you can walk healthily!^^
So I say, switch to MBT after heels from time to time! Your back will be grateful! ^_^
I can’t give them up – stuck for life, I’m afraid! My regulars are 4- to 5-inches, but I have cut down wear-time quite a fair bit since becoming a mom. 🙂 Now I run around more in ballerina flats, Birkenstocks and Havaianas!
that’s scary! but i don’t think i can! plus im not attracted to shoes that are below 3 inches high…help!
oh shoot! I can always say NO to heels just for my legs, my feet and back! 🙂 I know there’s a lot of high heeled shoes out there that looks great on me, but sorry …I just can’t! hahaha 🙂
heels and flat without support totally not good to our backbone..I stopped wearing high heels after a few times I got back pain whenever carrying my 5 months old Ava. It’s been awhile I know this fact but just recently I converted into “scholl” sandals…..
Ouch..! I envy girl that can run on 3″ heels but hell i can’t. Altho it make us feels like having a slim leg, but I cant even bare to walk properly w such high heels. Maybe I am rather tall, so I suppose thats the reason it cant support my height haha..! I wear 1″ or 1.5″ only which I think is the most comfy, even 2″ is the highest heels I ever have and barely wear it except for special event. Flat heels are my fave before, but it wasnt until I suffer leg pain too. Anyway, why worry..they are plenty of pretty and sexy comfy heels now!
Thank you PB! 🙂 This write-up will go into mental storage of reasons why I shouldn’t cave in to the temptation of towering designer inspired heels.
I mostly look out for chic pumps now, or heel-less covered shoes, for everyday wear since I’m keen to introduce more opaque tights into my wardrobe. I’m still very much a jeans person though, and heel-less shoes and jeans don’t look very stylish together, so I still have a few 2-2.5″ heels.
Never though, for shoes with heels as high as Louboutins. Knowing me, I’ll be clumsy enough to trip on my own feet and sprain my ankles XD
Are the health problems mentioned in the write-up associated with wedges too?
Besides the fact that I LOVE my skyscraper heels… I can’t help but think if it was ok for my posture to dance for hours on my TOES why isn’t it ok for me to walk around in heels? Having said that, I do rotate my shoes regularly, never wearing very high heels two days in a row.
Yes. I do rotate my heels too. 1 to 3 inch heels from Mon to Fri but ballerina flats, slippers on weekends. 🙂
My back is ok from heels. But my lower back pain comes from muscle tension when I’m stressed. And also if I got indigestion, somehow, my back will be painful too.
I’ve never really been able to wear high heels for more than a few hours at a time because my feet are weird and already developing bunions at my age 🙁 Its strange because I never owned heels, just sneakers, and now that I’m trying to wear more grown up shoes I can’t.
So yes I would give them up…though I still wear them out for special occasions.