DO YOU STILL want to rock high heels
from time to time? Here are some tips
from our experts to help prevent trouble.
Learn your foot type. “People with
high arches will be more stable in high
heels but will still benefit from shoes that
have shock-absorbing material like cork
under the ball of the foot to protect
against back issues. Platforms and wider,
chunky heels are best for those who over-pronate [feet roll inward and arches flat-ten],” says Dr. Marlene Reid.
Alternate your heel height. “Variety
is key. Wearing different heights of heels
allows your feet and tendons not to get
stuck in a rut,” says Dr. Todd Sinett.
Listen to your body. “Foot pain is
never normal. If the shoes are not comfortable, stop wearing them. If you see a difference in your toes, such as toes rotating
or contracting, or your tendons are getting
tighter, see a podiatrist,” says Reid.
Orthotics. “A variety of small leather
orthotics are now available for women’s
dress shoes,” says Sinett.
The Costco Connection
Costco members will find a variety of
casual, dress and active footwear at their
local Costco and on Costco.com.
University’s BioMotion Research Laboratory,
published in the Journal of Orthopaedic
Research in 2015, found that walking in 3¼-
inch heels, as opposed to 1½-inch heels,
puts women at risk of developing knee problems, even if they walk more slowly. The
observed changes in gait were similar to those
seen in osteoarthritis and aging, and were
especially notable for those who wore a
weighted vest equal to 20 percent extra body
weight, indicating that women who are overweight have an increased risk.
Wearing high heels puts pressure on the
lower back and the muscles that stabilize it. Dr.
Todd Sinett, a chiropractor based in New York
and author of 3 Weeks to a Better Back (East
End Press, 2015; not available at Costco), says,
“When a woman is wearing heels, her weight
distribution is pitched forward. The lumbar
spine area then carries more weight, which
puts more stress on the lower back muscles as
well as hamstrings, calves and feet.”
These days, Reid loves shoe shopping and
continues to wear heels sometimes, favoring
low 1- to 2-inch “kitten heels.” She listens to
her body: When her dogs bark, she switches
things up. C
Jane Langille is a Toronto-area health and
medical writer ( janelangille.com).
FANCY FEET FOLLIES
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Shopping tip. “Get off the carpet
when you try new shoes on, so you can
feel what the padding of the shoe really
feels like on the ball of your foot,” says
Reid.—JL
Five tips to reduce risk
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