How Wearing High Heels Affects Your Posture
Scott Lamb 
Love wearing high heels? There’s something about how these vertical rasing shoes make us feel that encourages us to put them on every chance we get. But what many women don’t know is that wearing high heels can harm our posture. We all appreciate the visual appeal of a lady’s form with heels but here we explore how wearing high heels can cause bad posture and discuss some tips on avoiding it.
Are High Heels Bad For Your Feet?
Although high heels are chic and fashionable, they can cause severe alignment and postural issues. High heels exert more pressure on the forefoot instead of the heel, the front of the feet, meaning that the body has no option but to adapt to being off-balance. If you regularly wear high heels, they can result in bad posture and gait taking, resulting in the distorted alignment of your hips, spine, feet, ankles, and knees.
Bad posture due to high heels occurs as your body tries to compensate by flexing itself at the spine and hips to maintain balance. It causes misalignment and exerts excess pressure on your knees while creating tension on your hips, calves, and back. All this can lead to severe pain and even long-term damage.
Are Low Heels Better Than High Heels?
The height of the heel determines the amount of damage it can cause. The higher the heel, the more pressure is placed on the ball of the foot, causing your toes to grip the ground for balance. It leads to pain and deformities, including bunions or hammertoe.
Wearing high heels also shortens your Achilles tendon and calf muscles making them tighter and less flexible. 2 inches heels exert 57% more pressure while 3-inch heels place 76% more. Regularly wearing high heels can lead to detrimental effects on your body, resulting in adjustments in the center of gravity, alignment, and balance.
What Can You Do to Avoid Bad Posture from High Heels?
You do not have to stop wearing heels altogether. However, you should think more sensibly when selecting your footwear. Low heels featuring a broad base are better than a 5-inch stiletto heel. Ideally, the heel should be below 1 1/2 inches and have a broad base to assist in spreading the load of the weight evenly.
In addition, try to limit the amount of time you spend wearing them. If you absolutely must wear high heels, take breaks often and stretch your feet and legs. Lastly, invest in good-quality shoes that provide support and cushioning to reduce the impact on your feet.
How To Wear Heels Safely?
- Select a heel that is no taller than two inches and has a broad base to distribute your weight evenly all other times, wear flat shoes with insole support.
- During the day, take breaks by removing them often and stretch your feet and relax the legs
- Reserve your high heels only for special events
- Wearing heels to work, put them in your bag, and put them when you arrive at your workplace.
By following these tips and wearing heels in moderation, you can help avoid the adverse effects of high heels on your posture. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry for your health. So, next time you reach for those sky-high heels, ask yourself if they’re worth it.