You can wear high heels in comfort; it just takes a little know-how –
or a good podiatrist. Of course, high heels can lead to foot problems
including pain under the ball of the foot,
heel pain,
bunion pain and
toe pain. But high heels can also be very attractive shoes for work and
fun and if you want to wear them we can help you do so in comfort.
There are a several ways for you to wear high heels with more comfort.
The first is to choose heels that are a bit better for your feet; the
second is to put something in the shoe that transfers force off of the
ball of your foot (dress shoe orthotics) and the third is to put
something in your shoe that provides cushion.
Make an appointment and then bring your favorite heels into our Seattle office so we can evaluate the heels and how they fit your feet. We’ll then give you suggestions to how to make your favorite heels more comfortable to wear.
Research has shown that the most effective way to decrease force on the ball of the foot, and reduce pain under the ball of the foot and the heel is to use a specialized custom orthotic that transfers pressure off of the painful areas of your feet and provides extra cushion under the forefoot. After taking a mold of your foot we prescribe a pair of orthotics that are designed to fit perfectly in your high-heel fashion shoes. You can learn more about dress shoe orthotics on our dress shoe orthotic page.
Choose your shoe: (Shoe with a back or backless)
Best
Insert for High Heels and Boots with a back:
Orthaheel Women's Dress Slimfit Insoles
is the best prefabricated orthotic we have found for women’s high heels
with a heel counter and boots. By transferring force off of the ball of
the foot and the heel, they reduce pain. They can also reduce back and
leg pain by improving body alignment and balance
Best
Insert for Slingback or Backless High Heels:
The
McConnel Slimfit Insoles has an adhesive bottom that allows it to fit
into slingbacks and backless high heels. By transferring force off of
the ball of the foot and the heel, they reduce pain. They can also
reduce back and leg pain by improving body alignment and balance
You can also use pads that simply provide cushion under the forefoot.
These have not been shown to be as effective as custom orthotics for
high heels, but they are inexpensive and can be a good way to start. The
best ones are made of silicone materials. Our favorite is
Gel Metatarsal Pad.
There are several brands of beautiful high heels on the market that
are fashionable AND better for your feet. If you are in the Seattle
area, you can visit shoe stores that specialize in fashionable yet
healthy shoes. These include SHOES-n-FEET and Wooly Mammoth. Some
specific brands to look for include:
Cole-Haan for example, teamed with Nike to introduce a line of heels
with Nike
Air technology. They are cushioned with Air Pads in the ball of the
foot. Some of their shoes include:
Air Sandal
Air Boot Air Wedge
Another group of high-heels incorporates a product called Insolia that
acts somewhat like a built in orthotic. Insolia products fundamentally
change the inside of high heel shoes, shifting weight off the ball of
the foot back to the heel. It actually feels like you are wearing much
lower heels which is a true comfort factor for many women. This weight
shift seems to improve body alignment and balance reducing leg and lower
back fatigue while reducing pressure on the ball of the foot. There are
several shoe manufacturers using Insolia technology. Those include DKNY
and Nordstrom.
DKNY
Pumps with Insolia
Other comfortable high-heels include brands such as Ariat and Theresia.
The take-home message here is don’t let yourself suffer. We can help you
wear the shoes you want to wear in comfort. To get started,
call us to make an appointment in our
Seattle office. Be sure to bring your favorite high heels.
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All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
