High Heels Create Numerous Foot Problems
More and more people are deciding that the drawbacks of high heeled shoes make them not worth wearing. There is a direct correlation with foot and ankle problems that come along with wearing high heeled shoes regularly. They push your toes together and shift the foot into an unnatural position that shortens the calf muscle causing tendon and arch problems. Toe deformities like hammertoes are more common in folks who wear high heels, so it’s better to dump the pumps.
Some of the problems caused by wearing high heels include the following:
● Overpronation: High heeled shoes shift your balance forward. This shift creates excess pressure on the ball of the foot leading to overpronation and the associated arch, knee, hip, and back problems.
● Toe deformities: Having your toes pushed together in the small space at the front of high heeled shoes increases the occurrence of bunions and hammertoes.
● Nerve problems: A neuroma is a growth surrounding a nerve that is exacerbated by tightly fitting shoes. They squeeze the metatarsal bones together, pinching nerves that can lead to tingling, burning, and numbing sensations.
● Tendonitis: The excessive pressure on the calf muscle and Achilles tendon on the back of your heel causes the tendon to shorten. This can lead to tendonitis, arch pain, and discomfort.
If you are experiencing foot and ankle problems from wearing high heels, see your podiatrist for the proper evaluation and treatment. The foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists, in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County Arizona, have unparalleled experience in treating all aspects of foot and ankle care. Our team of doctors, including Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, is dedicated to serving you with state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical technologies. These include the PinPointe FootLaser, custom-fitted orthotics, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic foot, heel, or ankle pain. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment please call (520) 575-0800.
