http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2008/03/high-heels-may-not-be-all-bad/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2008/03/high-heels-may-not-be-all-bad/comment-page-1/#comment-532 Anonymous Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:13:00 +0000 http://askamericaspodiatrist.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-532 The good doctor first absolves high heels from being the cause of many foot problems but then contradicts herself by warning of unique foot problems, such as pinched nerves, bent toes, or a shortened, tight Achilles tendon. If she really wanted to be helpful she would have something to say about avoiding or handling these problems. Knowing anatomy I see some critical points that she neglects. The first thing to note is that women’s shoes are made in only one width called medium which is too tight for many and a likely source of a large proportion of women’s foot problems. The podiatric profession is responsible for it by being silent about this outrage. The second point is that thanks to the triangular shape of the front of the shoe the foot in heels tends to slide forward into the empty toe part and thereby cause the side toes to become pinched. This is almost completely avoidable by filling the empty front end of pumps with lamb’s wool that Dr. Scholl sells. With it the pressure responsible for creating pinched nerves and bent toes disappears. Contrary to most popular accounts the Achilles tendon does not shorten from high heel wear but becomes thicker, and with that less flexible. It may be uncomfortable for some when they revert to low heels. It is not a health issue, just a matter of comfort. Soft wedge slippers can solve it as intermediaries if desired. The good doctor first absolves high heels from being the
cause of many foot problems but then contradicts herself by warning of unique foot problems, such as pinched nerves, bent toes, or a
shortened, tight Achilles tendon. If she really wanted to be helpful she would have something to say
about avoiding or handling these problems. Knowing anatomy I see some critical
points that she neglects. The first thing to note is that women’s shoes are made
in only one width called medium which is too tight for many and a likely source
of a large proportion of women’s foot problems. The podiatric profession is
responsible for it by being silent about this outrage. The second point is that
thanks to the triangular shape of the front of the shoe the foot in heels tends to slide
forward into the empty toe part and thereby cause the side toes to become
pinched. This is almost completely avoidable by filling the empty front end
of pumps with lamb’s wool that Dr. Scholl sells. With it the pressure responsible for
creating pinched nerves and bent toes disappears. Contrary to most popular
accounts the Achilles tendon does not shorten from high heel wear but becomes
thicker, and with that less flexible. It may be uncomfortable for some when they
revert to low heels. It is not a health issue, just a matter of comfort. Soft wedge slippers can solve it as intermediaries if desired.

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