Those High Heels And Flip-Flips Are A Pain In The Back!

Does this sound familiar?

You leave the house at the crack of dawn, drop the kids off at school, dash to the office, power through your work day…running from meeting to meeting.  Fight traffic on the way home, blast your way through the grocery store and barely make it home in time to throw together some semblance of dinner before you’re off again to hockey, cheer or dance practice.  If you’re lucky it ends there and there are no late PTA meetings or late night work obligations you have to force yourself out of the house for again.  By the time you mange to lay down your weary head you can feel your heartbeat pulsing in your feet, your calves are screaming and your lower back aches….but you looked good, because you were rocking those killer heels you picked up on sale last weekend.  Admit it, you’ve been then, sacrificing comfort for looks.  Vanity insanity is real and I’m as guilty as the next girl.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Put fashion before function.  It’s important to give your feet a fighting chance! No matter how often you wear heels, you’re not superwoman. Whether it’s just for a night on the town, or a full day of meetings there are ways you can decrease discomfort and protect your back.  There are a couple of tricks we can try to make sure we are taking care of our feet, and ultimately our whole selves.  These tips, provided by the Ontario Chiropractic Association, include:

Cushion the blow, and use padded cushions in the front of your shoes. These will help provide added support for the balls of your feet and keep your toes from getting squished into the front of your shoes.
Bring a spare pair of shoes. If you’re wearing new shoes, or something that you know can cause you aches and pains, make sure you bring a spare pair that can provide you support and comfort.

It’s also important to remember that it’s not only sky-high heels that can be painful, but poorly chosen running shoes and sandals can also do damage to your joints and lower back.  Flip-flops may give your feet some relief from the summer heat, but reality is that many rubber flip-flops don’t offer your feet the support they need. Wearing shoes with little (or no!) arch support can result in the overuse of muscles and tendons not only in your feet, but your hips, ankles, knees and back – which can result in undue stress and pain.   How often have you seen women walking though amusement parks, or out exploring a new area in nothing but their flip-flops?  They might as well be in bare feet!

Your choice of running shoe is equally important.  These shoes may seem comfortable in comparison to some of your high heels, but it’s important to choose the right runner for your foot. According to the Ontario Chiropractic Association, depending on whether or not you have high or low arches will reflect the type of shoe you need to ensure you have the proper support. The top three things to keep in mind when choosing a running shoe are: the shape, the construction and the midsole.

The Ontario Chiropractic Association warns that poor footwear can cause problems for your feet, knees, hips low back as well as your spine. Perhaps it’s time to invest in a new pair of shoes!  When it comes time to shop for new shoes, consider the time of day you’re going.  Did you know that not all hours are the same when judging the fit?  It’s true.  You should shop for new shoes in the afternoon or evening, as your feet tend to accumulate fluid and swell throughout the day. Shopping for shoes in the morning could lead you to purchasing ill-fitting footwear.  When summer comes there’s even more fluctuation in how much your feet may swell, so shopping for shoes in the late afternoon or in the evening will help you find footwear that is comfortable from sun up to sundown.

Take the time to look after your feet, you’re joints and lower back will thank you!

For more information on bones, muscles, joints and the central nervous system, and as a resource to find a local chiropractor if needed please visit www.chiropractic.on.ca.

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