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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Matthew Buchanan, MD
Top 5 Tips For Wearing High Heels
The Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Center

Top 5 Tips For Wearing High Heels

1. Eliminate the painful shoes lurking in your closet.

Discard or donate high heels that cause foot pain. Pain is a sign the shoe is causing damage to your foot, creating bunions, hammertoes, corns, and calluses. Don't expect tight shoes to stretch over time. Eight out of 10 women say their shoes are painful. Don't forget fashionable shoes can be comfortable if the fit is right.

2. If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it.

Proper shoe fit is crucial. Judge a shoe not on the size but how it fits on your foot. Our feet change as we grow older. Have both feet measured and fit to the larger foot. Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are the largest. There should be adequate space at the end of your shoe (up to 1/2″) and the ball of your foot should fit well into the widest part of the shoe. Nine out of 10 women are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet.

3. High heels are bunion and hammertoe creators.

High heels force the toes into unnatural, harmful positions. Because of improper shoe fit, women are nine times more likely to develop a foot problem than a man. More than seven out of 10 women have developed a bunion, hammertoe, or other painful foot deformity.

4. Give your feet a break.

If you must wear high heels for a special event, limit the time spent in the shoes and the height of the heel. The higher the heel, the more stress placed on the front part of the foot. Bring a second pair of comfortable shoes for before and after. Commute to work in athletic shoes.

5. Prevent ankle injuries by working on your core strength and balance.

Twisting your ankle while wearing high heels can cause ankle sprains and fractures. Prevent these injuries by maximizing the strength of the balance muscles in your legs and core. Sign up for a yoga class or work with a trainer at your gym.

Statistics from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society.

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