fi tbody

CURE FOR

ribs? The answer is, probably not. Yet, most of us wear shoes that have multiple negative impacts on the health of our entire body. Studies in leading scientifi c journals show that these reverberating effects start with painful and deformed feet and can migrate up to impaired bone density and a weakened pelvic fl oor.

According to The Journal of

Gerontology, for example, a study examining senior populations showed that a history of wearing ill-fi tting and high-heeled footwear was specifi cally associated with poor balance, hammer toes, bunions and foot pain. Once thought to be genetic or age-related, researchers are now beginning to look at the impact that shoes have on the body.

Identifying the Culprits

The most detrimental part of the shoe to overall body structure seems to be heel height, which both increases tension in the plantar fascia (the thick connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot) and alters the position of the knees and lower back. The higher the heel, the tighter the muscles and fascia in the arch become, until walking feels painful. A heel of any height also

38 Central Florida

HANGOVER

W

HIGH HEEL

by Katy Bowman

ould we keep wearing a hat that gave us a headache or a belt that fractured our

When researchers at the Institute for Aging Research recently analyzed foot examination data from 3,300 older men and women, they found that 64 percent of the

women who reported heel and ankle pain regularly wore pumps or high heels at some time in the past. They found no signifi cant link between foot pain and the types of shoes men wear.

Source: Arthritis Care and Research

projects one’s body mass forward, increasing the pressure on the front of the foot, which can lead to soreness there and increase the risk for bunions. Other harmful footwear

characteristics also need to be evaluated. The narrow toe spaces of many fashion favorites not only limit the foot’s natural range of motion, they diminish the strength of the toes. Weakened foot and toe muscles,

resulting from years of cramping toes into a too-small space, provide insuffi cient strength for proper balancing, and according to the

American Journal of Epidemiology, the

situation can even increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Taking a Healthy Stride Forward

A lifetime of excessive shoe wearing and poor shoe choices means we need to make foot fi tness a priority. It is possible to undo much footwear damage if we modify our habits. Try making the most of these foot exercises and shoe selection tips:

Foot Stretch

Stand with your hands on a wall or a chair. Put one leg back behind the torso and tuck these toes under, in order to stretch the muscles in the toes and feet. Cramping is normal, so take a break when needed, and then return to the stretch. Work up to holding the tucked position for a minute, repeating on each foot two to three times daily.

Toe Spreading

Everyone’s toes should be able to spread apart from each other, just as we can spread our fi ngers. Practice toe spreading every day to increase strength and fl exibility in the feet, as well as circulation and nerve health. For faster results, slip toe spacers between the toes (available at local nail salons and drug stores) or wear toe alignment socks (e.g., MyHappyFeetColors.com) while watching TV or sleeping.

Shoe Closet Makeover

The second part of our foot makeover occurs at the shoe store when we select a fl at or negative-heeled shoe (with the heel lower than the ball of the foot). Also make sure the width of the shoe fi ts well. A woman should always be able to spread her toes comfortably inside a shoe, paying close attention to the big and pinkie toes. Fortunately, more shoe designers are offering colorful, fun and sexy options these days in sandals, ballet fl ats and other stylish looks. It’s also important to minimize the use of sandals or fl ip-fl ops that require the toes to grip onto the shoe when Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56