My pal Fab has been seriously weighing the pros and cons of shoes replacing handbags as the ultimate fashion accessory. Makes sense to me because so many of the heels out this season are intricate and high. I mean really high.
High heels can create the illusion of longer legs, but they can also create all kinds of pains in lower legs. But it seems they have negative health consequences from the tip of the toe to the top of the head, or rather that neck. It works like this:
The spine is balanced at either end by the pelvis and the skull. If one end is out of alignment, the other will compensate (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction — sorry to get so Newtonian when talking about stilettos, I just couldn't resist). To see the chain of events, just read more.
It works like this:
- High heels put the pelvis in a tipped forward position.
- The head position compensates for this misalignment, most often by moving to a forward head position with the chin jutting forward.
- A forward head puts a lot of strain on the muscles that both support the vertebrae in the neck and connect the spine to the skull.
- When these muscles are chronically tight they can cause serious neck pain, as well as headaches.
If you love your heels but have some unexplained neck pain, I wholeheartedly suggest switching up your heel height. Alternate high heels with flats and even some more supportive shoes. Hopefully, this can help ease your fashionable pain in the neck.
Dunhill
Tod's
Hush Puppies
So true! I don't normally have neck pain from high heels, but I do have low back pain from my pelvis being forced out of alignment. My hamstrings and low back are always super tight after a night of wearing them. It makes sense the effect would trickle up to the neck. I try to wear cute flats the majority of the time and save heels for special occasions.
1I never really notice but come summer I wear flats more anyway; I do alternate between heel height though.
2It's true. And the chain doesn't stop with the neck. You can get knee, hip, and shoulder problems as well as the obvious ankle problems from poor balance. That's not to say you have to give up your heels, however. I recommend to my patients that if they plan to be on their feet more than a few hours to bring a spare pair of flats. I follow that advice myself.
3I hardly ever wear high heels. They're just not comfortable! I think being flat-footed makes wearing them even worse. Also, I like being (closer to) my natural height of 5'6 =)
4Sarah Jessica Parker said her knees are pretty much shot after running around in heels for the Sex and the City series.
5I love high heels for going out at night and getting dressed up, but I definitely don't wear them everyday. I wear wedges sometimes and flats most days, which are obviously much more comfortable when you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day like I do.
6I live in heels, I hate wearing anything but!!
7booo i wish heels werent so bad for us. but being a girl i just cant ditch my beautiful heels, they're gorgeouss hahaa... good excuse for me to go flats shopping again though!
8I rarely wear high heels but i have to pay attention on this.
9I read about this before, and it's actually right. I also read that wearing high heel can also affect female fertility.
10So true .
11I don't wear heels much ..
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