When it comes to shoes, some women will go through hell for a pair of the London Jimmy Choo brand. The brand became notable in the fashion circles, especially for its high heeled bridals since 1996. Since wearing high-heeled shoes is an art, women deserve medals for learning to walk in them let alone run! But what effect does wearing high heel have on our bodies?
High Heel shoes
Most women believe that if they wear
high-heeled shoes they will become more attractive, sexier, more cultured,
corporate and sophisticated as well as boost their confidence.
These days at social functions, including
churches, as every day wear, especially in the corporate world, Nigerian ladies
can be seen wearing these ridiculously high-heeled shoes that come as high as
14 to 16 inches.
There are different kinds — the
wedge, clogs, ankle strap heels, wedge sandals and the high heel sandals and
they come in assorted colours.
Unknown to many, the constant
wearing of these shoes presents some very serious health risks as experts have
warned that they could constitute harm to the feet, hip, back and even lead to
permanent body deformities. “The negative effects of wearing high heels
can be experienced in particular sections of the feet, knees, legs and back.
Dr Onyebuchi Ahoma, a Clinical
Psychologist, says that ladies who wear heels put themselves through unnecessary
misery and pain. “Some of them cannot even walk straight on heels because
they feel uncomfortable but because they think it is chic and trendy they want
to endure and ignore the pains they feel,’’ he said.
Dr Abubakah Muhyi, an Orthopaedic
Surgeon with the National Hospital, Abuja, says that high heel shoes have been
the leading cause that usually brought female patients to visit orthopaedic
doctors. Muhyi says that the constant wearing of shoes with high heels or
narrow toes have led to a high incidence in corrective foot operations.
According to him, this is what
happens when women choose fashionable footwear over health, and many of them
aren’t even aware that they are causing harm to their health. “Years of
wearing heels can lead to bunions or other infractions of the toe and calf.
These signs often surface in middle aged women.
“When a woman is walking on heels,
she is basically walking on the balls of her feet. The ball of the foot will
experience intense pressure and this pressure more than doubles with every inch
in the height of shoe heel. “Ankle injuries are always a threat and the
degree of injuries can extend from sprains to fractures. Calluses, corns and
bunions can be formed on feet due to high heels, especially if the shoes are
tight or walked on for long periods.
“Metatarsalgia is a condition
affecting the ball of the foot, where all the weight is concentrated on when a
woman is in heels. “Hammertoes is a condition where the toes are
maintained in downward curled position because of the continual confinement of
the feet in the high heels. “The muscles of the feet become tight and are
unable to stretch and straighten when out of the shoes.
“Women may complain of numbness,
sharp pain and burn in the toes and ball of the foot when wearing high heeled
shoes — all of which are symptoms of `Morton’s Neuroma’ which is the
inflammation of the tissue surrounding the nerve between the third and fourth
toes,’’ he told newsmen.
Dr Babalola Olatunji, a Consultant
Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi
(NOHIL), Lagos, says that high heels cause much more pressure on the knees than
what the knees are designed for, and could give rise to a condition called
osteoarthritis as well as other joint disorders.
Olatunji noted that women who wear
high heels frequently have a higher incidence of degenerative joint disease of
the knees. This is because they cause a decrease in the normal rotation of
the foot which puts more rotation stress on the knee. He says that a
similar condition could occur with the Achilles tendon where it could retain
its shortened state even when a woman is not wearing high heels.
“The calves will tend to retain the
contracted and shortened state due to the feet being in high heels. The calf
muscles may become difficult or virtually impossible to straighten without
medical intervention. “High heels can cause a change in the way the
muscles and tendons work together while walking. Normally, a tendon stretches
and shortens, making walking easy on the muscles of the calf.
“However, heels wearing can cause
the tendons, especially the Achilles tendon to shorten, leaving the strain on
the muscles of the calf to do all the work. “They can cause foot pain,
increase likelihood of sprains and fractures, and make the calves look more
rigid and sinewy. They can also create foot deformities, causing an
unsteady gait, shorten the wearer’s stride and can also render the wearer
unable to run,’’ he said.
Another Orthopaedic and Trauma
Surgeon at NOHIL, Lagos, Dr Akintayo Akindele, is of the opinion that regular
wearing of high heel shoes could affect the body posture of a woman. “The
increased weight on the toes caused the body to tilt forward and to compensate,
you lean backwards and overarch your back creating a posture that can strain
your knees, hips and lower back. “Because the feet will be in a fixed
position, the woman will have to bend her spine in the lower back more to keep
her balance.
“Some women may wonder where certain
back, shoulder and neck pain may come from. Well, high heels are a prime cause
of such pain in the torso,’’ he added. Akindele says that with each inch
added to a heel, greater problems could arise, but there are also ways to wear
heels more safely… So, if you insist on wearing high heels and you are
concerned about muscle and joint strains, his advice is simple:
“I am not telling people they
shouldn’t wear heels, but should, maybe wear them in moderation and alternate
with other flat shoes. “Women who wear high heels can take them off when
feeling uncomfortable, while driving or sitting at their desk at work. Try, if
possible to ease back a bit on the high footwear. “Wear high heels maybe
once or twice a week. And if that’s not practical or desirable, try to remove
the heels whenever possible.
“Settle for shoes that are light and
comfortable and don’t have a tight area for the toes. Also, women must stray
from tempting selections with a high heel. In the long run, your feet will
thank you for your efforts.’’ In spite of the fuss over high heel shoes
for Nigerian women, Miss Juliet Igwe, a final year student of Tai-Solarin
University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun, says that such shoes are like a
“Fashion Mantra’’ for her.
She adds that they complete her
total appearance, beauty and self esteem. “I love wedge heels, they make
you walk elegantly and you feel this aura of confidence that completes your
feminine personality. “Whether they are associated with any form of health
risk, I am not aware,’’ she said.
Ms Rita Izunobi, the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), Ritz Make-up and Décor, says high heel shoes are an essential
aspect of a lady’s dressing. “For a working class lady or a lady who deals
with the corporate world, heels are a must wear to greatly enhance your personal
standing and gait.
“I heard they could cause back pain,
but I have never experienced any,’’ Izunobi said. A civil servant, Mrs
Titi Tela, is of the opinion that high heels could be uncomfortable but
inevitable when it comes to a woman’s wardrobe. “Many women wear them to
look and feel sexy, professional, or to boost confidence, but most ladies carry
flat slip-ons or shoes in their bags to alternate because these heels can be
very discomforting and you do not have a choice but to slip out of them,’’ she
said.
Mr Joe Onalo, an engineer, thinks
that ladies who wear high heels look attractive. “I admire ladies on high
heels because they have a way of catching one ’s fancy, attention and
admiration.’
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