Top 5 Common Symptoms After Wearing Heels

I have few patients lately asking about “does wearing heels have a negative effect” on them, so I decided to write a blog about it since it seems like many ladies/parents would like to know.

                   Fig. 1.1                                                                                           

 

                                                           Fig. 1.2

 

Normally when we stand still, our weight/pressure is supposed to distribute evenly like a tripod but when wearing heels, it all changes. Uneven pressure to our structure such as bones, joints, muscles, tendons..

                                                                                                    Fig. 1.3

I'll be using the picture Fig. 1.3 to give you a better picture of what I mean about tripod. Now imagine heels being worn on it. When your heel is raised upwards, the pressure on #1 will transfer to #3 area and the amount of pressure being transfer depends on the heels inches. The higher it is, the more pressure is placed on #3 (If you are experience pain on #3, consider to reduce the amount time/days wearing heels).

There's more....

If you look at Fig. 1.2 you can see the left side is the normal posture and the right side you can clearly see her knees, chest are shifted forward and the pelvic area is raised. Prolong wearing heels will cause the muscles and tendon tighten up causing pain, tiredness which will further develop tender points/trigger points. For us guys to understand what the ladies are going thru, you can try to do a bicep curl and hold that contraction for 2-3 hours and then relax. Do you feel that burn? that's what it feels like after wearing/standing on the heels.

Here is the Top 5 common symptoms after wearing heels:

1. Ball of the foot pain 
2. Low back pain
3.  Shoulder & Neck Pain 
4. Calf Muscle / Achilles Tendon Pain 
5. Knee Pain

                          Fig. 1.4

Does that mean you shouldn't wear heels anymore? Of course not. You can make better choices on the type of heels; 1 or 2 inches heels, soft insoles, make sure the shoes are the right size, wear heels on the days that does not require you to walk or stand as often, stretching the calf muscles and feet. However if you are experience pain in the top 5 common symptoms, I suggest you to reduce the amount of time wearing heels or come in to see me for an osteopathic consultation/check up.

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Got questions? Send me an email at nutridition@gmail.com or call in to schedule your appointment today!

SmartLifePhysio
Unit 212, 385 Silver Star Blvd Scarborough ON M1V 0E3
(416)901-1788

TownCentreRehab
Unit 3, 60 Brian Harrison Way, Scarborough, ON, M1P 5J5 
(416)296-1788





 

Osteopathic FAQ: What does Manual Osteopaths actually do?

Def:

Osteo- indicating bone or bones

Pathy- a disease or the treatment for a disease

Many things! “Osteo” treatments focuses on bones, but we can also treat joints, muscles and spine. Osteopathic treatment is “holistic” approach to health care, meaning we treat the body as a whole. Now, what does that mean you say? It means when Osteo treats, we look at connections/causes of pain and treat not only the location of pain but also the surrounding area.

An example that I’ve posted before..

“Knee pain can have multiple factors, not just directly at that area but also its surrounding and connections such as tender points in the thighs that is restricting the structure, quadriceps tendon inflammation, IT Band etc..”

After initial medical history collected, an Osteopathic treatment includes the following:

1) Soft tissue therapy

2) Muscle energy technique

3) Mobilisation

4) Strengthening advice

5) Therapeutic Exercises

6) Educating patient on preventative measures on injuries

7) Suggestions on alternative activities to avoid injuries recurrence

8) Treatment of pain; not only directly but also its surrounding and connections

9) Nutritional Advices

 
and much more!

Got questions? Send me an email at nutridition@gmail.com or call us today today to find out how we can help!

SmartLifePhysio
Unit 212, 385 Silver Star Blvd Scarborough ON M1V 0E3
(416)901-1788

TownCentreRehab
Unit 3, 60 Brian Harrison Way, Scarborough, ON, M1P 5J5 
(416)296-1788 

Osteopathy is covered under extended health care benefit plans (please refer to your policy)

 

Osteopathic FAQ: Why get treatment when it's only minor or little pain?

For example: a male in his mid-20s didn't notice a puddle of water while walking in a mall, as he walked over it, he slipped but maintained his balance without falling. The next day he woke up with a minor hip pain and ignored it. Few weeks passes by, he started to notice the pain has referred/shifted to his middle and low back.  

In terms of this example of minor slip and fall, our bodies can naturally heal itself with time “if” there are no restrictions like muscle spasms/knots, tightness, pain, discomfort, fatigue, loss of movement, decrease range of motion etc but because he ignored the pain over time, those restrictions increased and even affecting other areas. Seeking treatment in prolonged stage will have a slower recovering time and requires more treatments. If treatments were began at an early stage, it will not only speed up the healing, but also reduces the amount of treatments that will be needed.


 
Muscles are like rubber band, it can shorten and lengthen. Sometimes when muscles get stretched enough with a light twist it can cause the muscle to bond together aka muscle knot. Imagine fully lengthening a rubber band, twist one end to the right/up, then the other end left/down and you will notice in the center that the bands are tied or semi twisted together.






Muscle Knots can...
- Reduce the movement of your arm
- Restricting your head turning from side to side
- Feeling achy somewhere
- Feeling of tiredness all the time
- Cause slower blood flow to the knotted areas 
- Cause headaches 
- Reduce other muscles or joints movement of the non-knotted areas
- Cause pain referral (pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus)
 


Treatments may include the following:
- Myofascial/Trigger Point Release
- Ultrasound Therapy
- Osteopathic Mobilization Techniques
- Soft Tissue Therapy
- Muscle Energy Techniques


Got questions? Send me an email at nutridition@gmail.com or call in to schedule your appointment today!

SmartLifePhysio
Unit 212, 385 Silver Star Blvd Scarborough ON M1V 0E3
(416)901-1788

TownCentreRehab
Unit 3, 60 Brian Harrison Way, Scarborough, ON, M1P 5J5 
(416)296-1788