Love High Heels? Treat Your Feet Right. Elevating the Discussion

When Patients Insist On Wearing High Heels

This is by far the toughest situation we face in the clinic! We are well aware that our clients will come to our offices wearing comfy shoes and then the minute they get back to their lives, the high heels come on! Our job is to educate and inform and make sure the choices are made well. Seriously though, the best advice is to stop wearing high heels every day – at the very least – limit the amount of time you wear them. High heels are usually too tight and it results in so many foot issues such as bunions, hammertoes, metatarsalgia and neuromas among others.

Women’s High Heel Dress Shoe Custom Orthotics

Is there such a thing as orthotics for high heels? Theoretically yes, but in general, they will not be as effective as orthotics for full-length removable liners. However, something is better than nothing. There are many off-the-shelf or custom options for high-heel orthotics and ultimately you have to make sure that the shoe first is properly fitted. In our experience, over 85% of women wear their high heels too short for them.

Should you wear foot orthotics with high heels?

If you must wear high heels then you should have some sort of support under your foot. The nature of the high heel is that it pitches your foot forward and puts a lot of pressure under the ball of the foot and under your big toe. If you can get something to offload the pressure there it will be better than nothing.

How to Wear High Heels in Comfort

We are not sure the words comfort and high heels belong in a sentence together, however, there are a few things you can look out for to help your foot be more comfortable in heels. Make sure the shoe actually fits and that it doesn’t appear to be too big just because the foot slides forward. Sometimes a tongue pad helps the foot stay back in the shoe and at least this way the arch of the foot is in the right spot. Also, be sure your foot volume is the right width for the shoe as opposed to cramming it in.

Choosing Foot Friendly High Heels

Ideally, a wedge or platform-style height heel is better than a stiletto. When you try the heel on, be sure to walk around and make sure your foot doesn’t slide too far forward or splay over the sides of the shoe.

Tips for Choosing High Heels (with and without orthotics)

If you have a choice in stilettos that go straight down, as opposed to ones that angle towards the front that would be better. Heels with straps at the back and over the foot that is adjustable can provide more support. If you can get fitted with a high heel orthotic then do so, but this should not be an excuse for wearing high heels more!

What happens if you wear high heels every day?

If you wear high heels every day you are severely deteriorating the fat pad under the ball of your foot which can lead to the ball of the foot pain or Morton’s Neuromas. Bunions and hammertoes are a common byproduct of daily high heel wear and there is no treatment to reverse these growths.

How do heels feel when you have flat feet?

Some people will say they have to wear a heel otherwise their legs hurt. This is usually because their calves are so tight that a heel helps take the pressure off them. Ideally, it would be better to stretch out the calf if they can as opposed to wearing high heels.

Want to continue wearing High Heels without foot pain, make an appointment with the best Chiropodist or Pedortist in Burlington, Ontario. Call us at 289-245-6624 for happy feet!