Beauty is Pain

According to a recent survey by the American Podiatry Medical Association, 42% of women admitted that they would wear heels they loved in spite of them being painful to their feet. It’s no secret that many people are willing to sacrifice comfort for looks. The phrase “beauty is pain” has been around for decades and hasn’t seemed to wane. High heels are currently as popular as ever in American fashion, and their average height has only increased. If women are willing to admit high heels are often painful, the real issue isn’t a question of if they’re detrimental, but a matter of how detrimental they are. Based off of research by the Journal of Applied Physiology that was featured on the Today Show, women who routinely wear high heels will actually start to mimic their high heeled stance while barefoot. This same research has demonstrated that excessive heel wearing can lead to shortened calf muscle fibers, exceptionally tight Achilles tendons, and other foot and ankle related conditions. This opens the door to tendon rupture, muscular pathologies, and gait abnormalities that can become serious lower extremity health conditions.

If you are currently experiencing pain in the calf and or foot and are a consistent heel wearer, consider visiting a Podiatrist to assess your lower extremity health. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida has been treating patients suffering from lower extremity pain for years. Dr. Garvin is a board certified Podiatrist that focuses on healing patients, and preventing future complications. For further information regarding your feet visit his website here.