How to walk in high heels

Portia Arthur

December 22, 2015 12:42 PM

‘Extra high stilettos push all of your weight onto the front of the foot, which is how you get the burning pain under your toes and calluses on the ball

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Ever wondered why your friend can run for miles in sky high stilettos and you, well, just can’t? Podiatrist Margaret Dabbs tells us it's all in the science and learning how to respond to our feet… Train Your Arch… ‘Your foot’s arch moulds itself to whatever shape you put it in, so if you live in Converse then you’ll have flatter feet than someone who has built up their arch support by wearing heels more often. Likewise someone who wears heels every day may struggle to wear flats again, because the instep is now so high and the Achilles tendon has shortened.' How Wide? ‘Wide feet need room. You’ll put pressure on the bunion joint and crush your toes if you squeeze feet into a style that’s too narrow at the front. Pain can come from the cut of the shoe as much as the heel itself.’

Ball Point… ‘Extra high stilettos push all of your weight onto the front of the foot, which is how you get the burning pain under your toes and calluses on the ball. Chunkier heels will help distribute weight more evenly and platforms add cushion.’ Forget The Flatforms… ‘You can’t walk anywhere fast in mules, but flatforms are the worst offenders. The inflexibility of the sole means you could go over on your ankle and the stomping movement is terrible for knees too.’

Vary Your Height… ‘Switch your heel height regularly so that the foot doesn’t get stuck in a certain shape. Change your footwear throughout the day I’ll wear trainers on the commute, slip heels on for a meeting and then do wedges for after work drinks. 1.5 inches is the optimum, but varying heights will keep your arches supple and the feet fit.’

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Portia Arthur