CAUSES OF PAIN IN HIGH HEELS
CAUSES OF PAIN
No successful therapy without research into the cause! Why conventional high heels quickly cause pain and the perceived pressure on the feet constantly increases throughout the day until you just want to get rid of them:Due to an elevated heel position, the entire center of gravity of the body shifts forward. In order not to topple over, the chest and hips push forward, while the lower back forms a hollow back (Vanderheiden, 2014; Fig. 1). This unnatural, unstable posture forces the muscles in the hips, calves and lower back to continuously compensate, which causes calf cramps after just a few hours - not infrequently accompanied by back pain as a result of the hollow back.
Instability while walking
But women don't just wear their high-heeled shoes while sitting at the restaurant table or in conferences - they also have to negotiate slippery stairs, gravel-strewn paths, cobblestones or wet lawns. Conventional high heels cause unstable walking, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.
Reduced step area and impeded roll movement
The reduced step area and shift forwards of the body weight with conventional high heels impede the natural roll evenly distributed between heel and forefoot (Eduard Gerlach GmbH, 2012), which leads with increasing heel height to an overload of the forefeet (see Fig. 2, The Spine Health Institute, o.D.).
In the forefoot, the excess pressure falls on the slender metatarsal bones and lowers the front transverse arch. As a result of this unphysiological pressure on the metatarsal phalangeal joint and the second to fourth metatarsals, painful callouses, shint splints, numb nerves, metatarsal pain, and even permanent toe deformities can set in. Toe caps that are too narrow can restrict the micro-circulation in the forefoot. This could lead to tissue inflammations (oedema), oxygen deficiency and tissue acidosis resulting from that. The reduced microcirculation reduces the pH value, which in turn irritates the chemoreceptors– a process we are all familiar with in the form of a stitch when we run too fast. The pain stimulus transmitted by chemoreceptors also triggers a reflectory vasoconstriction, through which the reduction in circulation escalates in a vicious cycle: the foot swells and becomes numb.
Midfoot: Lack of medial longitudinal arch support and rigid, non-torsionally adapted shoe design lead to overloading of the Chopart and Lisfranc joints. This can mean the onset of mytendinosis, cartilage wear, joint arthritis and burning pain.
Rearfoot: A lack of cushioning around the heel, an excessively smooth, non-slip surface of the footbed and inadequate anatomical fit of the heel cap are the most common causes of painful blisters, unsteady footing and unstable gait. As a result, women often clench their toes to compensate for the lack of support in the shoe.
However, our patented shoes prove that a high heel can be painless and even comfortable to wear or start hurting much later than expected. The scientific knowledge gained from our research was the inspiration for the development of a new generation of high heels. Enjoy appealing shoes that are easy on the body and browse through our selected range of models.
