flat shoes can be the real culprits behind spine and leg ailments

AN INCH TO GOOD HEALTH 

A recent study says flat shoes can be the real culprits behind spine and leg ailments. Smita Roy speaks to city experts and gets the ideal heel size

 We've heard stories about high heels being bad. Even the bootylicious Beyonce Knowles, who's known for her sexy fashion sense, was recently heard complaining about her high heels. It's a proven fact that high heels can cause several ailments related to the knees, back and spine. And when it gets too much to handle, most people simply switch over to flat shoes. While doctors say that flats are better since they relax the feet and don't let them tire soon, a recent study says wearing total flats can be a cause of trouble. For starters, it kills the sex appeal that high heels bring in! But on a more serious note, podiatrists around the world are alarmed at the rising number of foot injuries caused by moving around in ballerinas and flip-flops. Although comfortable, flat shoes can cause severe foot pain, shooting pains in the shins, bunions, back aches and arthritis.
    Muscular and occupational therapist Dr Preeti Jadhav says, "Walking in heels alters the centre of gravity, training your legs to produce muscle especially in the calf and thighs thus toning them. For people who suffer poor circulation and are prone to swollen ankles, shoes with one-inch heels can boost the amount of blood and tissue fluid that is returned from the legs to the upper body. Modest heels of about one or one and a half inch can improve alignment of the lower back reducing the risk of lower back pain. It also helps people with straight backs as it restores a healthy curve and eases tension in the muscle. For total comfort while walking, one must stick to the one to one and a half inch heel rather than wearing the absolute extremes."
    Physiotherapist Dr Priya Rathore says, "Absolute flats are fine as long as the insole is padded well. But otherwise I would agree that one-inch is the ideal heel size. It helps your calf muscles. Although here, too, I'd say that the insole has to be soft. Shoes with hard insoles can be painful — whether they are flats or high-heeled!"
    Research also claims that women who wear one to two inch heels may have more fun between the sheets than women wearing absolute flats. The body posture adopted while wearing heels improves the pelvic floor muscles, which eventually helps achieve a wonderful climax. The best bet hence, is to wear different kinds of shoes with variable heel lengths at different points of time. Doctors also advise against wearing any particular pair of shoes regularly. Although the absolute skyscraper kinds are still a 'no-no', a little bit of heel would only do good!
    smita.roy@timesgroup.com 
HERE'S HOW FLAT SHOES CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BODY: People tend to shuffle instead of walking. This can ruin the body posture. They cause the feet to roll inward, stretching ligaments and tendons. The stretched ligaments pull toes out of alignment with the rest of the foot, causing severe pain. This can eventually cause bunions. When the feet roll in, they pull the knees with them. If forced into an awkward angle, the knee caps can become inflamed, painful, and sometimes, arthritic. Walking uphill or running in flats can also bring trouble, as the lack of support causes inflammation along the shin, prompting shooting pains.

FLAT OUT: Whether stillettos or platforms (extreme left), one inch heel is ideal

SUBSCRIBE TO Free SMS Alerts on India Stock Markets
OR SEND SMS "ON WAY2TRADE  " TO 9870807070
|DisasterAwareness | Health | Insurance |  Forex| Commodities|

Earn decent money by receiving SMSes on your cell phone.  Free Signup!

Chat ways2invest wilint

Contact Me

Ways2Health GLM may be the answer for Arthritis