Are Stilettos Really That Bad for your Physique?
There has been much debate in recent years over the negative impacts that high heels can have on your body. Doctors shake their heads in dismay when women come to them with back problems, osteopaths tut, and the local newspaper’s health section goes into a frenzy about the evils of stilettos. But are they really that bad? All right, after you wear them, your feet can be a little painful and your calves might twinge a bit for a couple of days, but once worn on a regular basis, your body does get accustomed to high heels - and your calves and feet will be tougher for it.
It is high time someone put these rumours to rest. Some people have done so already: earlier this year, an article was published by the BBC which argued that high heels do have benefits on the body. Here we shall challenge three of the most common myths regarding stilettos, and proceed to look at the ways in which your body can benefit from them.
Myth #1: High heels are a source of back problems. Senior osteopaths say this is not necessarily the case. Only those with a pre-disposition for back injuries are likely to get one - but that doesn’t mean all of us will suffer as a result of wearing heels. While it is true that walking on 8-inch stilettos for days on end can result in too much pressure being put on the front of the ankles (which leads to postural problems) if you wear your heels wisely, this should not be a problem. Instead of walking to work in high heels, for instance, keep the stilettos at the office and commute to work in your trainers.
Myth #2 : Stilettos cause the lower back and neck to become stiff. Not exactly. Stiffness, osteopaths claim, has less to do with the fact that you’re wearing heels, and more to do with how you wear them. If you are already experiencing postural problems even without wearing shoes (such as tilting your back), then of course stilettos will problem make that problem worse as they add pressure to the lower back. If you make sure you are standing straight and assume the right posture before you slip on the heels, however, you avoid any future problems. If fact, high heels often have the tendency to correct a woman’s posture, as they help them balance their weight. Stiffness is therefore no a direct result of wearing stilettos.
Myth #3: Heels are not good for your muscles. Again, a false assumption. While some might experience soreness after wearing stilettos too often, this can be avoided as prescribed in Myth #1. A recent study has revealed that, in fact, women who wear high heels have stronger leg and pelvic muscles. As long as there is variation in the shoes you wear every day, you don’t have to worry about overexerting your muscles.
Another interesting advantage of stilettos -as the BBC article revealed - is that they can improve your sex life. The article quotes a study conducted by Italian Urologist Dr. Cerruto in which she explains that the heel forces the foot in an angle so that it exercises and strengthens the pelvic floor functions. A woman’s pelvic muscles are very important to sexual performance, so the notion that intercourse may be improved simply by wearing heels is a welcoming one indeed.
Regardless of what myths or truths you chose to believe about stilettos, the bottom line is that there is always a solution that is right for you. If you do experience long-term problems, do not hesitate to contact your osteopath, but remember that these issues are not necessarily linked with the heels you wear.
