If you’ve gone an extended period wearing high heels, there’s a strong possibility your feet were feeling the effects long after you gave up and carried your shoes home. Even the most experienced heel wearer has undoubtedly come across a pair that puts up a bit more of a struggle.
Despite this discomfort, you can’t always avoid high heels. Sometimes you have to wear them as part of a uniform or dress code; you want to look good in other cases! In any case, you can make the prospect of wearing high heels a less intimidating—and less painful—one if you understand both why your go-to pair of heels causes so much discomfort and what can be done to alleviate that heel or foot pain. So before you give up on wearing your favorite stilettos ever again, answer these questions and consider whether you can make heel pain a thing of the past.
Are you wearing shoes that are the proper size?
As a rule, high heels take a toll on your feet. However, wearing a pair of heels that’s too small or too large can exacerbate your foot pain, making it all the more challenging to get through a special occasion or typical workday in your go-to pumps. It may sound overly simple, but ensuring your shoes are the right size can very well be the miracle you need to keep rocking high heels.
Are you supporting your foot inside your high heels?
If your shoes are, in fact, the proper size, then an issue of mis-sizing might not be your issue at all. First, take a look at the inside of your heels. How well-supported are your feet when you wear them? More often than not, you’ll find there’s little to no support at all. Then, before tossing your pumps aside with a sigh, read through some PowerStep insoles reviews to find out if a foam-infused insole like PowerStep’s might be the solution you need. You may very well find that the best insole offers all the arch support and general comfort you need to put your best foot forward—literally.
Have you identified any more severe issues?
So, you’re wearing the correct shoe size and have plenty of support in your favorite stilettos. Still, your feet hurt horribly! In this case, you may want to visit your podiatrist to uncover any underlying issues. Concerns such as plantar fasciitis or pes planus (more commonly known as flat feet) can exacerbate the discomfort you’d expect to feel from your go-to pumps. Your doctor will be able to identify any health problems that could be worsening your heel pain and offer solutions for minimizing these effects.
Does your shoe collection need a makeover?
Once you have an idea of any underlying conditions that might be making your heels less-than bearable, you can turn once more to your shoes themselves. In some cases, you might find that simply upgrading to the best fashion heels for your own needs will transform your shoe collection from one that leaves you writhing to one that lets you walk in your favorite high heels pain-free. Simply wearing shorter heels, opting for a wedge or other thick base, or even just choosing an alternative shape can help you rock those pumps without nasty heel or foot pain.
Do your feet need a workout?
If you’re struggling with plantar fasciitis or a similar condition while wearing even the most comfortable, cushion-sole footwear there is, you might find that some simple stretches or exercises may be all it takes to step forward more fashionably. So talk to your podiatrist or start doing some research before your next appointment and start reaping the benefits in no time at all.
When your heel, foot, and ankle struggle in your favorite stilettos, it’s hard to feel as sexy as you otherwise might in your go-to high heels. By evaluating your situation—and the footwear that’s causing you strain—you can determine whether you need a new pair of shoes or if another issue may be to blame.
