Women often do their best to keep up with the fashion of the moment in an attempt to look great in the latest trends. It’s an age-old irony when being fashionable can leave the style-conscious looking good but feeling like it’s time to see the doctor. As it turns out, getting dressed to impress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

According to recent statistics brought to light in fashion magazine Papierdoll, 82 per cent of women report foot pain and a further 72 per cent have confessed to foot conditions, including ingrown toenails, fungal infections, calluses, bunions, corns, fallen arches and nerve injuries from wearing high heels.

Wearing high heels is one of the most notorious fashions sacrifices the female population is known for making. Is the pain worth it? It doesn’t matter if you are wearing stilettos or platforms – there are several possible consequences of wearing high-heeled footwear.

The immediate injuries are twisted, sprained and, at times, broken ankles from falling off balance. There are even more serious long-term effects to be taken into consideration. Knee pain can also be attributed to the frequent wearing of high heels. It has been proven that the very severe condition of osteoarthritis is all part of the heavy price to pay for that extra inch of height.

If heels are worn everyday, osteoarthritis can develop in the hips and ankles, but is most commonly known for affecting the knees. It can also shorten the length of the calf muscle, which causes tight calves and misalignment of the knees.

Already a problem among people, especially women, is an over-arched lower back. By wearing high heels, the body weight is positioned slightly forward of the body’s usual center of gravity, creating an over-compensation of muscles just to keep the body upright. This causes major stress on the lower back, making this vogue trend even more expensive. The average pair of high heels can cost anywhere between $40 and $400. Add on the cost of a trip to the doctor to get a referral to a chiropractor, physiotherapist or osteopath and those shoes to die for may not be so appealing. According to statistics compiled by the Society of Chiropractors and Podiatrists, four times as many women complain of having foot problems than men.

If you are someone who wears high heels and suffers from any of the mentioned ailments, it is recommended to slowly start lowering the height of the heel you are wearing. This is a safer option than going cold turkey on unhealthy fashion foot fetishes. It will allow your body to adjust and start to correct back into its natural alignment.

High heels are not the best for wearing all the time, but won’t do much harm if worn occasionally. It may come as a surprise, but completely flat shoes are not ideal for our bodies either.

A lot of sandals and casual footwear are made completely flat with no real contour to the foot. Over time, if worn frequently, this will lead to inverted knees. If the condition is not rectified, the knee joint will weaken, which increases the chance of dislocation. The problem will also move up the body affecting the pelvis and spine.

It is suggested that a small heel is preferable for encouraging the body’s natural alignment, which in turn will equal healthy joints and a healthy spine. There are a wide range of fashionable, modestly heeled shoes available. Of course, there is no need to say goodbye to high heels forever. One alternative is to phase out the high heel from the everyday wardrobe into a special occasions wardrobe.

Another cause of concern for women following the world of glamour and fashion is handbags. Handbags are often seen as a women’s security blanket and in recent years, due to a common tendency to follow Hollywood style, the bigger the bag, the better. Larger bags are known as totes and in the past could have been classified as an overnight bag. Due to the size, it is easy for women to throw in an abundance of items. In relation to the body’s posture, this means more weight is applied on one shoulder and subsequently can cause shoulder, neck and back pain.

Smaller bags will obviously play less havoc on the body, but if your big bag is already your cherished accessory, it would be a wise idea to not overload – despite the carrying potential. This will allow you to stay glamorous without the pain!

Despite the obvious reasons not to follow fashion trends, high heels, strappy sandals and oversized handbags will continue to be high priority on fashionista’s shopping list! Maybe next season we’ll see comfy, appropriate footwear and accessories as a must-have for all those in vogue.

Recent Entries

• The Chado Ralph Rucci spring 2009 collection
• Fashion Show: The spring 2009 Baby Phat collection
• Sexy photo of Megan Fox Gallery
• Sexy top celebrity and model of Brooke Bollea
• Top celebrity of Kristen Bell
• Sexy Top Models at the Helen Mills Gallery
• Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton
• Sexy model: Tyra Banks
• Fashion: Jean therapy
• Chris Brown Wants Rihanna To Dress Less Sexy

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 13th, 2008 at 11:53 pm and is filed under Fashion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.