When most women hear the words, high heels, stilettos, or pumps, they think fashion not function. For years woman have been told that high heels are bad for their feet and calves but it is simply not true. So how can heels be good for you?
We are NOT referring to shoes that have 5 inch high heels but shoes that have a heel around 1 inch to 1.5 inches high. This kind of heel can often significantly help a persons’ posture. The same goes for men in dress shoes or cowboy boots.
This is an easy test for you to perform for yourself and notice what actually happens. First try a pair of shoes with heals around an inch high and pay attention to a few things. First take a look in a mirror, do your shoulders come back (stand tall)? Does your belly not bulge as much? Do you feel your breathing is easier? Most importantly, do you feel your body weight shift more towards your heels versus the balls of your feet? There is an ideal heel height to achieve a better posture without exerting effort to hold your posture and the amount of heel height is unique for everyone. If you feel the opposite effects than your heels are too high.
Some people will need a smaller heel or even no heel to achieve this same effect. It all depends on your body mechanics. This is something you need to test for yourself. But the notion that high heels are bad for you is simply not true. So if you are wearing shoes with some heels built in, do not worry anymore that you are causing foot damage or your calf muscles are going to tighten up. The exact opposite is true because when you find the correct heel height your body weight shifts backwards in a very natural way taking pressure off your foot and letting the calf muscles relax. Have fun with this and check it out for yourself. You will find that some of your aches and pains might decrease or even disappear. Poor shoes can easily contribute to low back pain, neck pain and headaches. Many women have already discovered this and it is often why you always see them with some sort of a heel.
So next time you walk by that pair of shoes that you really want but maybe would have passed by for a “more sensible pair” take a look and try them on, let your body decide which is the best one for you.