Cinderella raced down the stairs! She had to make it in time! She couldn’t let Prince Charming see who she really was. Of course, she thought as she very ungracefully descended the enormous number of palace steps, this would be much easier if she had just listened to fairy godmother (who, in her spare time, was a chiropractor, and knew about these things). But no, she had to pick the glass ones that sparkled. Who needs leather or nylon when your feet can look like crystals! Of course there was only one size of them though, half a size too small. You should really measure the size of your foot standing up dear, fairy godmother had said. But they fit (smooshed) while she was sitting, plus those beautiful thin sleek diamond studded straps made her feet look like stardust! And those six inch recessed stiletto heels! They made her shiver with anticipation. Maybe even Prince Charming would notice her!
After all that, it was their conversation while sitting down with the tablecloth covering her feet that ignited the spark between them. And despite her swollen, painful feet that resulted in clumsy dancing, he still seemed more interested in talking with her than anyone else (not to mention bemused by her dancing skills).
She had almost reached the bottom of the stairs when she had had enough. She took off both heels and descended the rest of the way barefoot. At the bottom she got a fright when she heard him call out for her and dropped one of the shoes. She thought about turning back to get it, but figured there was no way she was ever going to wear those heels again! She ran for the carriage and it rode away into the night.
Later that night, Cinderella soaked her feet in warm lavender water and gave them a nice massage. The next day she put on some low comfortable shoes and smiled.
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High heels can cause pain in your feet (and your back!). Shoes that are relatively flat with good support for your feet are generally best. But for those days or nights when heels are needed, think about these tips when choosing a shoe:
Get a shoe that is the right size. Try shopping later in the day (your feet will be slightly more swollen later in the day, and a better guide for if you’ll be on your feet when in heels). Measure your feet standing up, this will give a more accurate reading than when sitting.
Avoid a heel height greater than 2 inches.
Add stability when possible. Choose a heel that has a broad base instead of stiletto. You can still have the slender heel look if the base is broad when viewed from the back but narrow when viewed from the side.
Avoid the unstable style of recessed heels.
Be wary of straps. If they are too thin or tight, they will dig into your feet, causing painful swelling.
Material is important too; leather and nylon allow for breathability and flexibility.
Check what the arch support is like. If it’s lacking, try adding an arch support.
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Now that you’re out having fun, looking beautiful, and wearing your heels, is there anything else that you can do? Absolutely!
If you place a cushion pad under the balls of your feet, it will give some cushioning, in addition to helping to stop you from slipping forwards within the heel, wedging your toes.
Take a break. Take your shoes off if possible. Wiggle some toes, and stretch some muscles.
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For more information on this topic and others please visit the Ontario Chiropractic Association’s website.
http://www.chiropractic.on.ca/kick-up-your-heels-your-back-health