High Heels: The Cause of Your Knee Pain

High heels have been a fashion staple for centuries. They elongate the leg, accentuate the calf, and create a more slender silhouette. Unfortunately, they can cause serious health problems when worn regularly including knee pain. This post will discuss how high heels affect your body in different ways and what you can do to prevent discomfort!

Why High Heels Cause your Knee Pain

High heels decrease the shock absorption of your foot and change the way you walk. They make your feet roll inward, which causes excessive pressure on the outside of your foot and ankle. Heel height magnifies this effect, leading to more strain on the ankles, knees, and hips. If this isn't bad enough, stilettos can cause damage to tendons and ligaments as well as muscles in your leg!

How High is too High?

Even flats don't provide enough cushioning for your joints; they still place unnatural stress on them by changing their alignment. Therefore, high heels that aren't too high (ie: less than 2") or that have a platform can be perfectly fine if worn sparingly. Anything over 3" increases your risk of knee pain and other health problems.

According to footwearadvise there are a variety of great flats to choose from, so there is no reason why you should wear high heels on a regular basis! If you do wish to wear them, try keeping them at 2" or less. Accessories such as pads for the ball of your foot and gel inserts can help reduce the uncomfortable effects that wearing heels creates!

• High heels can cause a number of issues in your lower body, including knee pain.
• There are a few things you can do to prevent or minimize this pain - wear shoes that have a heel height of two inches or less, change the way you walk in high-heeled shoes so that you're not leaning forward and put weight on your toes when walking.
• If these adjustments don't relieve the discomfort, it might be time for orthotics.
• If all else fails, try flat-soled shoes with arch support 
• In any event, if you experience persistent knee pain from wearing high heels, see a doctor right away!
• Wear wedges instead of stilettos to avoid too much strain on your feet and knees

What to Do to Prevent Knee Pain?

• Wear shoes with a heel height of two inches or less
• Change the way you walk in high-heeled shoes so that you're not leaning forward and put weight on your toes when walking
• If these adjustments don't relieve the discomfort, it might be time for orthotics (arch supports designed to fit inside your shoe)
• If all else fails, try flat-soled shoes with arch support
• In any event, if you experience persistent knee pain from wearing high heels, see a doctor right away!
• Wear wedges instead of stilettos to avoid too much strain on your feet and knees

If you experience persistent knee pain from wearing high heels: See a doctor right away!
​
Wear wedges instead of stilettos to avoid too much strain on your feet and knees. Wear shoes with a heel height of two inches or less. Change the way you walk in high-heeled shoes so that you're not leaning forward and put weight on your toes when walking. If all else fails, try flat-soled shoes with arch support. In any event, if you experience persistent knee pain from wearing high heels, see a doctor right away!

Conclusion
Ladies, if you want to keep your knees pain-free and enjoy the high heel trend for many years to come then it's time to find some heels that are more comfortable. You can minimize knee pain by wearing shoes with a wide toe box, cushioned insole, or shock-absorbing sole. If all else fails, try these 6 tips from an orthopedic surgeon on how to reduce knee pain while wearing high heels!