How to Wear High Heels Without Negative Effects on Your Feet

High-heeled shoes are a great fashion accessory for women (and even for some men), but what price do you actually pay for them? And we’re not just talking about the price at the till.

Wearing high heels incorrectly can cause a lot of physical pain and may even pose a serious risk to your overall health in the long run. Don’t worry — you don’t have to throw away all your heeled shoes to stay healthy. You just need to learn how to walk in them properly and choose them in a way that won’t leave you suffering at the end of the day.

How do you determine the right heel height? How can you learn to wear high heels?

You will need:

• High heels
• Socks or tights
• Insoles or gel pads

How to do it?

1. Learn everything you can about wearing high heels safely. You can find plenty of information online published by orthopaedists and doctors specialising in feet and the spine. It’s worth doing a bit of research to understand foot anatomy and why unsuitable high heels can cause harm.
2. Measure your foot size. Yes, you may think you know your shoe size, but you could be mistaken. Even high heels that are just half a size too big or too small can cause serious problems, while the same style in the correct size might cause no pain at all. Have your feet measured professionally or do it at home, and make sure all high heels you buy from now on are the right size.
3. Only wear high heels of an appropriate height. The right height varies from person to person depending on the shoe style, the shape of your foot and your own height. The key is not to wear heels that are higher than what feels comfortable. A good way to test this is to put on the heels, stand up straight, and then rise up onto your toes as much as possible. If you can’t lift the bottom of the heel at least one and a half centimetres off the floor, the heels are too high for you and you shouldn’t choose them.
4. Pay attention to the width of the heel when choosing shoes. Anyone who has worn stiletto heels and then comfortable court shoes knows there’s a big difference. Choose heels that are wide enough to support you properly.
5. Rotate your shoes regularly. This is, by the way, good news for women who love shoe shopping! You’ll enjoy wearing them more if you alternate different pairs of high heels throughout the week. Don’t wear the same heeled shoes every day.
6. Always wear socks or tights with high-heeled shoes. This significantly reduces the pain felt when wearing them.
7. Add insoles or gel pads to all your heeled shoes. This further reduces pain during all-day walking in heels. Try different types of inserts to find the ones that are most comfortable for you.
8. Keep your head up. In other words, stand up straight when walking in high heels. This immediately reduces the risk of pain.
9. Listen to your body. Your body will let you know when heels start damaging your feet. Don’t ignore these warnings. Take your shoes off and give your feet a rest. If you regularly have problems with a particular pair, consider retiring them to the back of your shoe rack. Comfort should always come first.