Healthy Woman:The dangers of high heels

High heels are an accessory for thousands of women. They make them look taller and slimmer than their actual size.Wearing high heels daily creates an unnatural structure to the feet causing bullions, scars and exerts extra pressure to the back. As a result women’s posture is affected. Dr. Emma Muganwa, a Physiotherapist at King Faisal Hospital says that wearing high heels is one of the biggest causes of backaches amongst most women. “High heels are the commonest cause of feet and back problems because they create an imbalance in the body leading to joint pains especially in the knee and hip areas,” Dr. Muganwa said. Body imbalance creates pressure on some body parts and stresses most muscles.“The knee cartilage wears out due to the pressure imposed by high heels while stress imposed on the muscles causes them to tear,” Dr. Muganwa explained.Besides, years of wearing high heels shortens the Achilles tendon. Additionally, the most common foot problems associated with high heels are blisters, corns and calluses. Calluses are generally overly thickened skin patches which can be unsightly and cause infection. According to Julius Mucunguzi, the assistant Spokesperson/Media Officer at The Commonwealth Secretariat said that he cannot prescribe what women like to wear, but as long as a woman feels comfortable in high heels, they are free to wear them. “I have seen some women who struggle to walk in high pointed heels; they look so strained. But again, someone will tell you that it’s their style or it is fashionable, and that perhaps the heels are meant to create that form of walking,” Mucunguzi said. Comfort for wise women comes first. Renowned Model, Fiona Rutagengwa Kamikazi said that high heels are best worn for certain occasions and are not for daily use. “I don’t think women should dress up in stilettos while at work due to the terrain. They will develop muscular legs which I don’t find sexy for a Rwandan lady,” Kamikazi said. Kamikazi says she only wears high heels when on the catwalk, which is occasional. Ronald Lwebuga of DYNAPHARM International differs from Kamikazi, saying that sometimes high heels boost a lady’s elegancy. “Women wearing stilettos appear to be smarter than when they are in flat shoes. At least, they should wear them twice a week,” Lwebuga says. A tip to the fashionable women: It is always advantageous to carry an extra pair of flat shoes in your handbag when you wear high heels. In case you get tired of walking around in your designer heels, you can always have soothing flat shoes to fall back to. Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk