I blame it on the stilettos

There was not a time in my life that I was not involved in some kind of sport. One month after my cracked clavicle healed from a bad horseback-riding fall (I was into equestrian sport for some years), I was back on top of a horse with my riding group at Manila Polo Club. I could not stay put and be without any activity. With my clavicle braces on, I joined my group on our daily trail ride to Fort Bonifacio — those were the days when the Fort was still an empty span of raw land with its myriad paths, which we found ideal for our trail ride. That must have been many decades ago, but it seemed only yesterday because the scolding I received from my orthopedic doctor is still so fresh in my mind.

Between 2000 and 2008, I was so hooked on tennis that in spite of lower back pains (which I incurred from falling hard on my butt countless times while attempting to winter-ski), I continued to play. I would go to my chiropractor when I felt some pain, go through some serious spine-strengthening treatment, rest a couple of days, and resume playing. After one particularly uncomfortable treatment with added stretching exercises and an acupuncture session, I was instructed to refrain from tennis for a week. After two boring days of rest, I went back to the court and played. The expected happened. I felt excruciating pains in my lower back that I had to be literally carried off the court.

 My exasperated doctor explained that after a treatment, the body is like wet cement. One has to wait for it to settle before it could be used again. After that embarrassing incident, I learned my lesson and humbly obeyed my doctor’s orders.

 Lest I forget, I have to mention that after my horse fall, my X-rays showed a straight spine until the lower back where it slightly veered to the left. I was also instructed not to wear stiletto heels. I should stick to flat shoes and kitty heels (1-1/2 to 2 inches at most). I tried to stick to two-inch heels, but some dresses and gowns really look more chic with stilettos.  The five-inch heels became the rage and this didn’t help my dilemma either.

 My recent X-ray registered a “mild” case of scoliosis, which my doctor attributes to my sports injury, age, and bad posture caused by using high heels. The word “mild,” I was warned, should not be taken lightly because if left untreated, it could turn to a serious case with bad consequences. I shudder to think that I would be a bent old lady someday.

 He explained that when we ladies use high heels, we attempt to compensate for the off-kilter balance that heels cause by flexing or forward bending the hips and spine.  This causes bad posture. In order to maintain balance, the hip, calf, and back muscles become tense. At the end of the day, this makes for excess muscle fatigue and strain.

 The Spine Health Institute explains the bad effects of high heels on the back: Wearing high heels causes lumbar spine flattening and a posterior displacement of the head and thoracic spine. Furthermore, it causes you to lean forward and the body’s response to that is to decrease the forward curve of your lower back to help keep you in line. Poor alignment may lead to muscle overuse and back pain.

Anatomical changes caused by high heels include:

Teetering on stilettos puts undue stress on the back and knees as the weight of the body shifts forward. Additionally, calve muscles can shorten and tendons may thicken. The slippage of one vertebrae forward over another frequently occurs as a result of wearing high heels, especially in the lumbar region of the spine where the body’s weight is concentrated.

A heel’s height determines the weight carried by the footwear. As the heels get higher, the pressure increases on the forefoot or the ball of the foot.

If you can’t avoid wearing high heels, here are some solutions:

• Avoid wearing high heels for long periods of time.

• Stretch leg muscles before and after wearing high heels.

• Try to limit heels to two inches (which is difficult to do with today’s fashion).

• Buy shoes in the afternoon when shoes are at their largest.

• Don’t go for the pointed toe.

• Opt for shoes with leather insoles to keep foot from slipping.

• Have a wide variety of shoes and vary your footwear from day to day.

We often make sacrifices for foot fashion, but at what price? I am paying the price now as it took a toll on my spine and posture. I am now shifting to lower heels and sneakers. I am also being stretched in a traction bag and undergoing treatment from the neck down with a physical therapist.  Risking one’s health is a steep price to pay for the sake of fashion and vanity!
— Source: www.SpineHealthInstitute.com