Ladies, if you thought giving up high heels would be necessary to minimize or avoid bunions and other toe problems, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Kind of.
High heels do not cause bunions or hammertoes after all.
High heels do cause a lot of other problems including strained calf muscles, shortened tendon muscles, posture problems and twisted ankles.
But according to Dr. Marian Hannan, leader of the recently published study, “Blame Your Parents for Bunions,” she argues that bunions and other toe maladies are more genetically inheritable than environmentally caused.
The largest study of its kind, Harvard Medical School looked at over 1,000 men and women with toe problems.
Wearing high heels may exacerbate bunions and hammer toes (the pressure on the arch and toes aggravates pressure and pain), but the fashionable shoes doesn’t cause the problem. The leaders of the study conclude, “Our study is the largest investigation…of common foot problems confirming that bunions and other toe deformities are highly inheritable.”
This news is helpful but it still leaves many women in a quandary: what to do about the pain and irritation bunions and hammertoes cause? Surgical problems are available but results are not guaranteed and recovery time is lengthy.
According to feet experts, the most helpful actions to soothe aching feet and prevent worsening conditions (while still wearing your heels) include:
- Soak the feet in warm to hot water and Epsom salts.
- Wear heavily padded insoles in heels. These act as a shock absorber.
- Act like a runner- stretch out before and after wearing heels.
- Put your feet up and give them regular breaks from heels.
- If wearing heels is a must, choose to pay a bit more and buy higher quality shoes with a thicker heel.
Many people might argue that giving up high heels would be the most logical approach to the problems of aching feet.
Perhaps it is. But as Marilyn Monroe once said, “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.” The sentiment is still felt by many women today.
What can we say? Old habits die hard.
Melissa AuClair blogs about freelancing, drinking coffee and working towards a location independent lifestyle at http://www.launchyourcreativelife.com She still wears high heels to her day job.
