Nothing beats the enormous smile and confidence that comes with putting on your beautiful new pair of heels for the first time.
There's also nothing quite like the existential dread you experience as you hobble around merely an hour into the event, wondering how you're going to make it through the day in these shoes when your feet are already hurting.
How do you wear high heels without pain? Could you wear high heels comfortably? Is it a sorcery that only a few people have? Can you train yourself to wear high heels? How to wear heels without pain?
Have no fear! I have answers for you! I'll go over proven strategies to minimize your foot discomfort and explain why you're suffering.
1. The placement of the heel
How do you envision your favorite stiletto? Does the heel go straight down the back of the shoe? Or is the heel positioned a little further in?
If you get pain in the ball of your foot when wearing heels, choose shoes with the heel further in
This relieves pressure on the front of your foot and allows your heel to undertake some of the job.
2. Reduce the height
I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but choosing a heel height of 3 inches or less will protect your feet.
Your regular walking pattern is heel-toe heel-toe, but when you wear high heels longer than 3 inches, you disrupt the biomechanics of your walk, upsetting your balance, and your feet desire to switch to toe-heel toe-heel in order to keep you upright.
Don't worry if your favorite pair of heels measures more than 3 inches! A shoe cobbler may decrease the heel height of most shoes by up to an inch.
It is crucial to notice that just because your heels are lower does not imply that your posture or gait has not changed.
3. Consider the shape of the toe
It is fairly uncommon to hear someone advise you to avoid pointed toe shoes and instead opt for a more rounded toe. While this makes sense in theory, the shape of the toe may play a different role than you realize.
The toe shape might play a significant effect depending on how much of the toe box your foot occupies. If your toes are shorter, you may be able to wear pointed shoes without squishing them into the toe box.
However, if you have longer toes, you may want to avoid pointed shoes entirely because the toe box is too small to fit your foot.
There is no true rule for the sort of shoe you should wear, but this might give you the answer of "How to wear heels without pain?"
4. Choose increased base of support
The narrower the heel, the more difficult it is to balance. An easy technique to consider your base of support is to begin standing without shoes on.
Place your feet shoulder width apart. If you want to put it to the test, ask someone to gently push you. Then, get down on all fours and let someone gently push you again. Now stand on one foot and try again.
After doing this, it is easy to see how a thicker heel might provide greater balance than a stiletto!
5. Stretch those puppies out
Some individuals prefer to wear thicker socks with their heels about the house first to stretch out their shoes, while others recommend using a blow dryer on them before putting their feet in.
The "bag of ice in the freezer" method is very popular!
Personally, I grew up with the sock method, and if that didn't work, my mother would use the shoe stretcher.
Your feet should be able to move freely in your shoes; stretch them out if necessary.
6. Gel or padded inserts
There are several sorts of shoe inserts you can use to relieve foot pain. Remember that adding any type of padding to a shoe will make it tighter, so make sure you can still move your foot easily in it afterward.
Here are a few options, and what is best to use them for:
- Ball of Foot Cushions: These are exactly where you'd expect them to be, under the ball of your foot. This provides an additional cushion under the ball of your foot, improving shock absorption and pain relief. There are several different sorts available depending on how you want them to sit.
- Gel Heel Liners: If the back of your shoe frequently scrapes against your heel/ankle and you want to minimize blisters, consider using gel heel liners. They typically come with either a more pliable gel or a stronger fabric lining.
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High Heel Insole Inserts: Placing an insert beneath your heel that runs through half or more of the sole of the shoe will help not only offer cushioning to your heel, but it can also benefit your foot by changing the weight distribution..
- Arch inserts: If you have a very high arched foot, having a shoe cobbler insert an arch support under the insole might significantly improve your comfort.
7. Wear them Less
This may appear to be the most obvious suggestion, but it is actually the most vital!
When you're going to a wedding or business and have the perfect pair of heels to wear, save them till you arrive! Wear a comfy pair of shoes to and from activities to allow your feet to rest.
Give your feet microbreaks throughout the day as well! If you enjoy wearing heels to work, remove them while sitting at your desk, even if your feet aren't hurting yet.
You can still wear heels to work, but you should wear them less frequently; every small break helps!
Conclusion
Here was your answer to “How to wear heels without pain?”
Painful heels can be avoided if proper care is taken by the feet and if appropriate heels are worn. You can minimize discomfort to a great extent using the above points.
By following these tips, one will be guaranteed the confidence and style that heels bring without the drawback of pain.
Take care of those feet because they have to carry you every step on the way in your life!
