Women love their high heels. High heels dress up an outfit, make for shapely calves and boost confidence. Some have even resorted to exercise programs using high heels. The extensive wear of high heels does not come without a price, however: The American Podiatric Medical Association indicates that 73 percent of women have had a foot problem related to their choice of shoes. Consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen, and discuss your choice of footwear.
The High Heel Workout
Rosalind Neilen is the Florida-based trainer behind a workout program based on the use of high heels --- specifically, the That's Fit website reports, walking in them. Neilen's program is a six-week exercise routine designed to help create a firmer butt and calf muscles. The program focuses on different types of high-heel walking for the first 10 minutes of each session. Walking is performed to a variety of different music. The remaining 20 minutes of each session is performed wearing comfortable sneakers.
High Heel Anatomy
Wearing high heels places your foot in a position that is not natural. The slant of a high heel places excessive pressure on the ball of your foot and can also lead to tightening of your calf muscle and your Achilles tendon. The unusual stance of your foot can cause foot, ankle and even lower-back pain. High heels also restrict your toes and the natural shapes of your foot. Taking your foot and placing it in this unnatural stance is bound to lead to foot pain and damage that can last a lifetime, podiatrist Stuart Mogul tells "Good Housekeeping" magazine.
Foot Conditions
Podiatrists see women for a variety of different foot ailments caused by wearing high heels. Mogul explains that high heels do not cause bunions --- bone-like protrusions at the base of your big toe --- but they can aggravate them. Placing your feet in high heels increases the pressure on your bones, which can make the pain of bunions worse. Women are also likely to experience corns and calluses as the result of wearing high heels regularly. Traumatic fractures or sprains can occur as the result of tripping or getting your heel stuck in a crack in the ground. Overuse injuries such as stress fractures and tendinitis can also occur with the use of high heels.
Exercises
If you are planning on exercising in high heels or wear high heels regularly, certain exercises may help keep your feet a little healthier. Exercises can keep your feet, ankles and lower legs strong, which, in turn, can reduce the likelihood of pain and injury. Perform calf and Achilles tendon stretches to reduce tendon tightness in your heel and lower leg, "Canadian Living" magazine suggests. Making the motions of writing the alphabet using your toes can also help to strengthen the muscles and tendons in and around your feet.
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