Whether you love them or simply choose to reserve them for special occasions, wearing heels can be an excruciating ordeal for many women. In corporate settings, hours of wearing heels can often leave some of us begging for mercy by the end of the day. If you’ve ever wondered what the average timeframe is for wearing heels, you’re not alone.
According to Who What Wear, many other women have also been curious, and a podiatrist has chimed in on the matter. “Heels alter the ability of the foot to absorb shock evenly across the foot and to hold up our body weight.” Dr. Miguel Cunha, the founder of Gotham Footcare, shared. “A larger sized heel will still force the distribution of weight onto the ball of your foot and compact your toes into a small space which will still lead to the progression of bunions when you are predisposed to having them."
Yikes. While we would rather avoid painful bunions at all cost, what if you can’t help but wear heels? Follow some of these easy tips to help maximize your time in heels, without causing yourself severe pain. Look towards heels that are less than 3 inches in height, as anything higher than actually change the mechanics behind how you walk—in a bad way.
"For a medium heel height, 1.5 to 3 inches, a maximum of 3 hours should be the limit. This type of heel is not really for walking long periods of time or dancing, however, if attending a social gathering, limit the physical activity to avoid foot damage and risk injury.” Dr. Cunha advised. “Never go over 3 inches in heel height because it changes the biomechanics of how you walk. This leads to shorter strides, and more pressure is placed on the balls of your feet, which throws off your center of gravity putting unneeded and unnecessary stress on your knees and lower back."
Ouch! Sounds super painful. While we’re not definitely not saying you shouldn’t wear heels, we just wanted to share a little insight on how to avoid any aggravating issues later down the line. Remember, opt for a height that’s three inches or less, as a medium heel height is optimal for decreasing the amount of pressure on your feet. If you're looking for some easy recommendations, opt for kitten heels or even low slingback pumps. For medium heels, look towards shoes that have a chunky heel for maximal comfort. In cooler temps, leather mules work well, and ankle booties are also an easy pick.
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