Heels have become a part of women’s fashion for many years now, and heels have definitely come to stay.
Class, elegance and style are just some of the things heels bring along to the fashion game when worn, but do you know of its dangers?
Many ladies wear heels regularly without even knowing the health implications. While heels might be highly fashionable, caution shouldn’t be thrown to the wind as regards its use, and these dangers of wearing heels would definitely shock you.
1. LOWER BACK PAIN
Wearing heels for long hours can cause you to have back pain. High heels cause your pelvis to push forward, thereby placing serious pressure on your lower back, causing serious pain in the region.
2. BAD TOE NAILS
A lot of women have bad toe nails because of high heels. Wearing high heels can lead to ingrown toe nails and can also lead to nail or fungal infections.
3. JOINT PAINS
According to the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, wearing heels stops your leg from rotating naturally as you walk, causing the knee to absorb the weight of every step taken; this can lead to arthritis and severe joint pains.
4. BUNIONS
Wearing high heels can make you have bunions or worsen them. With the shape of many high heel shoes, it forces your big toe against your other toes, and this might lead to bunions.
Bunion is a painful swelling on the side of the big toe.
5. INCREASED RISK OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
According to a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, wearing heels that are 3 1/2 inches or more can increase your lifetime risk of osteoarthritis.
6. SHORTENED ACHILLES TENDON
According to a research conducted by researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, women who wear heels over a long period of their lives actually shorten their Achilles tendon. With the heels placed in an unbalanced position, it can create a physiological change in the muscles or tendons around the ankles.
7. CAN KILL YOUR NATURAL PADDING
Wearing heels can push away the natural padding you have on the ball of your foot. Your entire body weight is placed on the ball of your foot, while your heels provides balance — and this would kill your natural padding in the long run.
8. SPRAINED ANKLE
Wearing heels can create an imbalance between the heel and the ball of your foot. Your ankle is forced to become the fulcrum of your whole body — and this is risky because your ankle isn’t built to take such a pressure.
While heels might be classy, formal and fashionable, it can affect your spine, hips, knees, ankles and feet, and even your posture.
ViV