High Heels

You all know not to wear your mega heels into your chiropractors office for fear of being scolded... but if you absolutely cannot “kick” your heel habit, here are tips for donning your Jimmy Choos and Manolos!

Rounded toes: much better choice than the pointy toe counterpart! Allows toes to move, allowing ample circulation and range of motion for the many joints in the toes.

Wedges: allow better support and stability than the sexy stiletto. As an added bonus wedge heels can be used as palliative (pain relieving) during times of severe heel pain because they support the heel, and weight bear on the ball of the foot, rather than the heel.

Platforms: a high heel increased the angle from your heel to toes, causing pressure on the metatarsal heads (ball of the foot). Adding a platform to a heel decreased that angle by lifting the ball of the foot off the ground.

Extras: Padding under the ball of the foot will cushion the metatarsal heads where women feel the most pain after hours of heel hiking. Keep in mind that suede and leather are natural materials and breathe better than synthetics, preventing infections including warts!

WARNING: If you have consistent sole of the foot pain, especially when getting out of bed, be sure to talk to your doctors… you have plantar fasciitis! Plantar fasciitis is much more efficiently treated in the beginning stages. Dr. Huston and Dr. Lindstrom treat several plantar fasciitis cases each week!

If you have any pain or numbness in the midfoot (just above the toes, between the long bones of the foot) with associated “popping” or clicking, you may be suffering from Morton’s Neuroma, a type of callus that develops on nerves that are constantly compressed and irritated.

Finally, chronic dull pain with episodes of sharp pain upon standing or weight bearing, especially in the 5th metatarsal (long bone above the pinky toe) maybe a stress fracture (hairline fracture) that is common around the outer side of the foot, also called a “Jones Fracture”.