Alternative High Heels
How High Heels Can Affect Your Running Performance
In today’s society, the norm for many women is to wear high heels when they work, go out with friends, and even around the house. Although high heels undoubtedly can help enhance an outfit or help make your legs appear toned, they will affect your body in such a way that can lead to negative effects on your running performance.
High heels put the leg in a position where the calf muscle is contracting. This is the desirable to many women because it makes the legs look more toned. The sustained muscle contraction can actually lead to a shortening and stiffening of the muscles that connect your knee and lower leg to your ankle, called the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. This shortening of these muscles will decrease your flexibility during running and will also cause them to fatigue faster. Besides shortening your calve muscles, wearing high heels also puts more pressure on the balls of your feet which puts you at higher risk of developing stress fractures of the metatarsal bones since you are no long distributing your weight equally over your foot.
Although the best way to combat this problem is to stop wearing high heels, I understand that for many people, and for some occupations, this simply isn’t an option. There are a few things that can be done to help combat problems from developing from wearing high heels. First, you can spend time stretching your calves each day that you wear high heels. The best stretch is to find a wall and put the ball of one foot against the wall while keeping the heel of that foot on the floor. Slowly move toward the wall until you feel a stretching sensation in your calve. Hold this position for 10 seconds then repeat 4 more times, alternating legs. Besides stretching you can also be more selective when you choose to wear high heels. If you have to walk to work, wear flats during the walk and change into high heels when you get there. Little substitutions like this really add up and help prevent any side effects from wearing high heels.
Many women in our society wear high heels for one reason or another but don’t want it to affect their running performance. The best way to prevent any problems from happening is to stop wearing high heels all together. If this isn’t possible then stretching and being pickier with when you were high heels will help to prevent any injuries from occurring.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Schneider is a podiatrist in private practice in Houston, TX. He is dedicated to maintaining the health and safety of the feet of athletes and return them to their sport as soon as possible after injury. For more information about foot health in sports, informative videos, and to order Dr. Schneider’s FREE book, visit his website and his blog “The Houston Running Chronicles”
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Stone therapy for feet Photo Mugs MODEL RELEASED. Stone therapy for feet. Conceptual image representing stone therapy. The stones areheated and placed on various areas of the body torelax the muscles and ease pain….. |
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Dancing Backward in High Heels $10.36 Long before MTV and Youtube, the NY Dolls got into rock’s water supply and never left. They are America’s most famous unknown band. The NY Dolls were and are about something more than glitz. Substance was and still is at the heart of their music and “Dancing Backward in High Heels” is proof that their longevity is not an accident! The NY Dolls are, simply, The Beatles of ATTITUDE!… |
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High Roller – Blue Denim $63.99 Live the high life in these flashy wedges from Naughty Monkey. High Roller is a denim 5 inch wedge with a 1 1/2 inch platform. An espadrille trim and pewter hardware details embellish this trendy wedge. |
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High Roller – Cream $71.99 Live the high life in these flashy wedges from Naughty Monkey. High Roller is a cream and beige 5 inch wedge with a 1 1/2 inch platform. An espadrille trim and silver hardware details embellish this trendy wedge. |
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High Roller – Multi Brights $63.99 Live the high life in these flashy wedges from Naughty Monkey. High Roller has a multi color and beige 5 inch wedge with a 1 1/2 inch platform. An espadrille trim and silver hardware details embellish this trendy wedge. |
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Sydney High – Chocolate $63.74 You’ll slip on these Ukala boots while battling the chilly weather and still look fabulously trendy. Sydney High brings you a soft chocolate upper completed by a cozy wool lining. You’ll stay snug all fall and winter in these awesome boots. |
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High Voltage Platform – Blue $69.99 Electrify your outfit with this shimmery style from Iron Fist. High Voltage features a glitter upper with fun and feisty cut outs through out. A 5 1/2 inch heel and 1 inch platform wraps up this all around powerful look. |
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Reef Seaside Womens Flip Flops 2012 $20.79 Reef Seaside Womens Flip Flops 2012 – The Reef Seaside flip flops have one of those can’t do without designs and are a comfortable alternative to wearing high heels. Everyone knows high heels are painful and uncomfortable. Simply slide the Seaside’s on and the difference is noticeable right away. They have an extremely soft, comfortable and squish EVA footbed with anatomical arch support that will have you feeling like you have pillows on your feet. The durable rubber EVA outsole will keep the Seaside’s lasting for years. Reef even bedazzled these little darlings with a think Sparkly strap that goes with everything. Do your feet a favor and pick up the Reef Seaside’s right away. . Warranty: One Year, Waterproof: No, Material: Woven Polyester, Type: Flip Flop, Insulated: No, Sole Material: Durable, High Density EVA, Model Year: 2012, Product ID: 265755 |
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Reef Stargazer Luxe Womens Flip Flops 2012 $24.95 Reef Stargazer Luxe Womens Flip Flops 2012 – The Reef Stargazer Luxe flip flops have one of those can’t do without designs and are a comfortable alternative to wearing high heels. Everyone knows high heels are painful and uncomfortable. Simply slide the Stargazer’s on and the difference is noticeable right away. They have an extremely soft, comfortable and squishy EVA footbed that will have you feeling like you have pillows on your feet. The durable rubber outsole will keep the Stargazer Luxe lasting for years. Reef even bedazzled these little darlings with a think Sparkly strap that goes with everything. Do your feet a favor and pick up the Reef Stargazer Luxe flippies right away. . Warranty: One Year, Waterproof: Yes, Material: Rubber, Type: Flip Flop, Insulated: No, Sole Material: Durable Rubber, Model Year: 2012, Product ID: 265783 |
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Reef Stargazer Luxe Womens Flip Flops 2012 $24.95 Reef Stargazer Luxe Womens Flip Flops 2012 – The Reef Stargazer Luxe flip flops have one of those can’t do without designs and are a comfortable alternative to wearing high heels. Everyone knows high heels are painful and uncomfortable. Simply slide the Stargazer’s on and the difference is noticeable right away. They have an extremely soft, comfortable and squishy EVA footbed that will have you feeling like you have pillows on your feet. The durable rubber outsole will keep the Stargazer Luxe lasting for years. Reef even bedazzled these little darlings with a think Sparkly strap that goes with everything. Do your feet a favor and pick up the Reef Stargazer Luxe flippies right away. . Warranty: One Year, Waterproof: Yes, Material: Rubber, Type: Flip Flop, Insulated: No, Sole Material: Durable Rubber, Model Year: 2012, Product ID: 265783 |
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