Are High Heels Related to Your Back Pain?
If you’re among the many you can’t say no to stylish but uncomfortable high heels, I know all about your pain. Just kidding, I’ve never actually worn high heels, BUT I can help explain why you’re feeling back pain after that nice evening out.
From an Osteopathic perspective, we observe every patient through a whole-body approach. High heels put the foot at an angle and pull muscles and joints out of alignment, so the effects aren’t limited to the feet. It is very common for people who spend lots of time in high heels to have low back, neck, and shoulder pain because the shoes disrupt the body’s load distribution.
Wearing high heels puts strain on the plantar fascia, aka the muscles and skin on the bottom of the foot. Structurally, the plantar fascia in the foot is connected to the calf muscle, which in turn connects to the hamstring. The hamstrings attach to the pelvis and low back, which is why wearing high heels can make your back ache along with your feet. Additionally, heels force you to place more of your weight onto the balls of your feet, which shifts your centre of gravity forward. As this occurs, the pelvis tilts forward, the back arches, and the result is literally, a pain in the back.
The body is designed to adapt to daily stresses placed upon it, which is why many women don’t get back pain after wearing heels. But if an underlying problem is present in the low back, a few hours of wearing heels can really expose the issue.
Are you someone who experiences this problem, but doesn’t want to give up wearing heels? Book your appointment to see how Osteopathy can help you feel better today!
