Sunday Times 2
Unhealthy high heels
Film festival organisers sparked controversy this week when it emerged a group of women, some of whom had medical conditions, were reportedly banned from screenings for wearing flat shoes.
Wearing heels can trigger health problems, from bunions to back pain and also increase the risk of suffering ankle injuries (AFP)
Dubbed flatgate, the scandal cast a shadow over the annual Cannes film festival, provoking outcry from some of Hollywood’s leading actresses.
While it is unclear what the fashion police had the most problem with – the lack of heels or the idea of flat shoes with rhinestones – the incident does raise some important questions about wearing footwear that isn’t very good for you.
High heels change the way we walk
Wearing high shoes regularly and for long periods of time can change the way you walk and lead to long-term bone and joint problems.
The first thing that most women will notice when they put on a pair of high heeled shoes is that their body weight is shifted forward, away from the heel towards the front of the foot. This shift has a profound effect on the functioning of the foot, making it more rigid and less to able to absorb the shock associated with ground contact.
The shift also increases the likelihood of pressure ulcers forming under the ball of the foot. These ulcers can be very dangerous for people who suffer with diabetes.
If left untreated they can lead to serious foot complications as a result of nerve damage, and in some cases foot amputation is necessary.
One of the women turned away in Cannes was wearing flat shoes because part of her left foot had been amputated.
Stilettos raise risk of fall or ankle sprain
As well as increasing the likelihood of a fall or an ankle sprain, habitual wearing of high heels can lead to long term adaptations in the muscles and tendons around the ankle joint.
For example, women who regularly wear high heels can expect shortened calf muscles, a stiffer Achilles tendon and reduced ankle flexibility.
Back pain builds up
Human walking is a fine balancing act in which we have to maintain our centre of gravity within relatively tight constraints to avoid falling and keep moving forward.
So relatively small changes in the position of our foot can have consequences all the way up the body.
Typical effects higher up include an increase in the curvature of the lower back, a change in the way the pelvis moves, or an increased backward lean.
All these changes have the potential to over-strain the low back and possibly lead to back pain.
© Daily Mail, London