Killing the pain of killer heels

ECCENTRIC superstar Lady Gaga’s recent interview with TV’s Paul O’Grady may have drawn gasps from audiences for many different reasons.

Perhaps her bald head, bold lyrics or bright green wig might have been startling to some but, for me, it was the towering heels in which she tottered across the stage which caused the biggest surprise.

For many decades now celebrities have been setting the trend in the fashion for “killer heels” and a quick trip to high street shoe shops will prove the point that new shoe styles seem to becoming higher and more daring than ever before.

Iconic French designer Christian Louboutin even hit the headlines this week for creating a pair of his famous red-soled eight inch stilettos which will now be auctioned off to raise funds for the English National Ballet.

And although these shoes would probably only ever be attempted by a ballet dancer at best, a visit to most UK town centres on a Friday or Saturday night will prove that young women are still opting for killer heels which can leave them hobbling and limping home after a long evening out.

But what impact does the wearing of high heels really have on a person’s feet?

Podiatrist Kerri Money, who works at PhysioPlus in Kingsthorpe, said she believed only a section of 18 to 23-year-olds really attempt to wear super high heels, but those who wear them routinely should be aware of their biomechanical impact on the body.

She said: “When you are in a high heeled shoe, your body has been made unstable so the shoe will affect the way you stand and walk. Your back will be more arched, your pelvis pushed forward and your calf muscles will shorten so your muscles will not be working as they should be.

“If your calves are often flexed they will stay like that, if you are in them all the time and go to a lower heeled shoe you are asking them to be in a position they are not used to.

“In low heeled shoes you can absorb the shock from the ground. If you are not doing that you are pushing the foot forward to absorb the shock, which isn’t what it has been designed to do. In high heels the centre of gravity is pushed forward and the balls of the foot are absorbing the hit of the ground and you are pushing off with them. That is a lot of work and can make the balls of your foot hurt.”

She continued: “We all like to wear heels sometimes but my advice would be to wear them only for short periods. I call them ‘car to bar’ shoes. If you are going out, you should go for thicker soles, the thicker the better. The more sole, the more cushioning there will be to help with shock absorption.”

Other tips from Kerri include trying to vary the types of shoes worn and opting for footwear with more straps, which offer more support.

She said: “Rotate between different shoes. If you are rotating different heels your muscles will work in lots of different positions.

“With more straps you will have more stability.

“With narrow, pointed shoes and high heels that is two negatives. If someone has a bunion and they are in a high heel their centre of gravity will have been pushed forward and they will be putting weight on a problem area.”

According to the NHS, the occasional wearing of high heels will not be harmful but damage can be caused if they are worn often during a working week, particularly when a person has to do a lot of walking or standing.

And poor footwear can have an impact later in life.

Helen Harman, falls practitioner for NHS Northamptonshire, said: “The impact of falling later in life is probably not foremost in the mind of fashion conscious young ladies. However, one of the highest risk factors for falling in later life is related to feet. Poor balance which can lead to severe falls can be a result of poor feet, possibly caused by footwear in earlier years.

“The Northamptonshire Falls Service routinely assesses feet and footwear as part of identifying the possible causes of a fall and aim to minimise falls risks. Advice is given regarding wearing well fitting supportive shoes.

“The effect of poor footwear can cause problems such as a corn, ingrown toenails, a callus or bunions.

“Frequently money is spent on appearance such as facials/makeup/hair styles but, despite our feet walking many miles over the years and being vital to wellbeing, they are often neglected.”