Ivanhoe Newswire- Holiday parties are right around the corner, and for many women, that means stepping out in high heels.
Studies have found the foot fashion can lead to back and knee pain and more.
Like many women, despite the pain, Cindy Gersham refuses to give up her heels.
“Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, usually I just wear them, I deal with the pain,” Gersham said.
But according to podiatrist Elizabeth Scheiber, that can lead to a lot of problems.
“Hammertoes, maybe a neuroma, pain, blisters on your feet,” Dr. Scheiber said. Even osteoarthritis in the knees Scheiber said is a potential outcome.
A high heel lover herself, Dr. Scheiber came up with a plan for her patients at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
“I have 5-minute shoes, 30-minute shoes, and all-day shoes,” Scheiber said.
First – the 5-minute shoe: to wear out to dinner when you plan to be sitting.
“You can see my metatarsal is 90 degrees to the ground. It’s as if you’re walking on your knuckles, there’s no pad supporting the ball of your foot,” she explained.
Then there’s the 30-minute shoe.
“You can see that the heel is a little lower than this shoe, it’s a little wider, there’s not as much pressure on the ball of the foot,” she said.
And finally, the all-day shoe.
“It’s got a stacked heel so you can wear this all day and look professional and look fun,” she continued.
Dr. Scheiber says the worst shoe to wear is flats.
“Your lower back is going to be painful and your foot has to work harder to walk,” Scheiber said.
Dr. Scheiber also suggests, after a long night in heels, use a frozen water bottle and roll it along with the ball of your foot for about ten minutes. She says it will work as an anti-inflammatory. She also says as we age our feet get longer so have your foot re-sized the next time you go shoe shopping.
