High Heel Foot Problems

High Heel Foot Problems

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UPDATES:

Added May 15, 2005 - email #9 (Holly) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 4
Added January 30, 2005 - email #8 (R.B.) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 4
Added January 30, 2005 - email #7 (Marcy) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 4
Added January 30, 2005 - email #6 (Maggie) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 4
Added July 30, 2004 - email #5 (LB) about " ROLFING and ANKLE EQUINUS " on Page 3
Added December 1, 2002 - section on "HAMMERTOES" on Page 5
Added October 13, 2002 - link about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 1
Added September 16, 2002 - email #4 (SC) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 3
Added August 11, 2002 - section on "ACUPUNCTURE MERIDIANS & FOOT REFLEXOLOGY" on Page 5
Added April 28, 2002 - section on "BUNIONS; BUNIONETTES" on Page 5
Added April 14, 2002 - email #3 (Yamit) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Page 2
Added March 17, 2002 - email #2 (Yamit) about "ANKLE EQUINUS" on Pages 1 & 2
Added March 17, 2002 - section on "BACK; LOWER BACK" on Page 5

It is important for those who wear high heels to realize that:
a) There are a number of serious foot problems that have been associated to wearing high heel shoes and boots, usually from misuse.
b) There is a fairly high probability that each of them will experience one or more of these problems at some point in her life.
c) It may be possible to avoid or greatly reduce the severity of all of these problems.
d) Information concerning all of this is in my book titled All About Wearing High Heels.

Achilles Tendonitis; Shortened Calf Muscles and Achilles Tendons; Ankle Equinus

Calf muscles and Achilles tendons can gradually become shortened and it happens in two distinct stages. The first stage is temporary as the calf muscles can still be stretched out with a little bit of help and one can continue to wear high heels for a very long time, possibly the rest of her life. The second stage is more permanent. The Achilles tendons can tear, if the calf muscles and Achilles tendons are stretched beyond their shortened limit. Trying to come down slowly can result in a slow partial tear, that can be diagnosed as acute Achilles tendonitis.

Also, there is no good way to tell whether permanency is set in or not for anyone who wears high heels all of the time. Unfortunately, the only way to be certain that the calf muscles and Achilles tendons are permanently shortened is to tear the Achilles tendons (either fully or partially) by coming down too low.

The Achilles tendons connect the calf muscles to the back of the heels. A tear can occur anywhere along the Achilles tendon, usually directly in back of the ankle. It is felt as a very sharp pain. The feeling is different from soreness that occurs off-and-on in the calf muscles, when wearing high heels all or most of the time. Besides soreness, the feeling in the calf muscles can also be described as being tight and knotted up.

The amount of time it takes to develop either temporary shortening (stage one) or permanent shortening (stage two) is unpredictable and differs for each individual case, as it depends on many factors such as the amount of walking one does. It can happen in a year or may never happen.

The vast majority of women who wear high heels never develop any significant permanent shortening because they simply do not wear them often enough. Those who wear high heels often enough usually do so less and less as they grow older, so they too are never affected. Also, injuries and accidents involving legs or feet stop many women from wearing high heels at some point in their lives.

Just as the degree of shortening (or tightening) can vary, the amount of shortening of the calf muscles and Achilles tendons can also vary up to the highest heels that a person can stand up straight and walk in. While this problem affects older women more, young women can also end up with permanently shortened calf muscles and Achilles tendons from extreme overuse of high heels.

Exercising and stretching the calf muscles can help prevent shortening of the calf muscles and Achilles tendons. The fact that tango dancers and club dancers usually do not experience any shortening supports this belief. So, it may be wise for those who wear high heels often to spend a few minutes every day stretching out their calf muscles.

HI!

I'VE READ IN YOUR SIRE ABOUT PERMANENT ACHILLES TENDON SHORTENED. I HAVE A DOUBT. THESE WOMEN CAN WALK FLAT WITH PAIN OR THEY CAN'T PUT THEIR FEET ON THE FLOOR? I'D LIKE TO READ SOME TRUE STORIES ABOUT WOMEN THAT HAD THEIRS ACHILLES TENDON PERMANENTLY SHORTENED. COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND SOME TO READ?

THANKS

R.Z. - 28 Feb 2002

Dear Roberta,

[ I HAVE A DOUBT. ]

The information that I have written about permanently shortened calf muscles and Achilles tendons in my book and on this website is "TRUE".

[ THESE WOMEN CAN WALK FLAT WITH PAIN OR THEY CAN'T PUT THEIR FEET ON THE FLOOR? ]

During (Stage 1) temporary shortening of the calf muscle and Achilles tendons, one can still walk flat-footed. Sometimes, there is pain. When there is pain, it may also be referred to as "Achilles tendonitis". The pain usually vanishes, once the muscles and tendons are fully stretched out.

During (Stage 2) permanent shortening of the calf muscle and Achilles tendons, the heel of the foot can not reach the floor when the ball-of-the-foot or front part of the foot does. It is possible to tip-toe around or walk on the toes only, but doing so can result in a torn Achilles tendon (either partially or fully).

[ I'D LIKE TO READ SOME TRUE STORIES ABOUT WOMEN THAT HAD THEIRS ACHILLES TENDON PERMANENTLY SHORTENED. COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND SOME TO READ? ]

I have not found any "trustworthy" personal stories about this problem on the Internet.

The best source for additional information about permanently shortened calf muscle and Achilles tendons for lay people, in my honest humble opinion, is my book titled All About Wearing High Heels.

The medical term for "permanently shortened calf muscle and Achilles tendons" is "ankle equinus". Ankle equinus can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. It can be acquired by neuromuscular disease (like polio or cerebral palsy) or in other ways, such as overly excessive use of high heels with insufficient stretching of the calf muscles.

Ankle equinus is usually remedied by "surgical lengthening of the Achilles tendons". I do not recommend this operation for those who wear high heels, unless it is absolutely necessary. The reasons are mentioned in my book.

Click here to read Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (June 1995 Issue) - Item about Ankle Equinus

J.J. - March 3, 2002

Click here to see a picture of a leg with ankle equinus at LaTrobe University web page about ankle equinus. Note that the foot also has a very high foot arch.

J.J. - October 13, 2002

Hi J.J

I just bought your book from Amazon site, and i hardly can wait for it to come. ( it will on the 26.3) I think i run over your all your site, and j.j it's the best info i found about high heels.

My name is yamit and i am living in Israel. I am 22 years old, and i am walking alot on high heels just half a year now, after the armi. I am feeling a little strange with my calf muscles or tendons when i am on flats, but thats it, but one of my friends, say she can't walk without 12cm heels... but she wearing them for short time like me (5-6 months). some information about her (yael):

age 21
hight: 163cm
wight: 58kg

she work as a qa in computer company (she don't walk too much) she don't do any sport she don't walk with pointed shoes (but i am ) that's about it. her situation is that she is can't walking on flat's, all the day she wear 12cm heels, and in home she wear 9cm heels as slippers.

JJ, Is that possible to happen to her so fast ? how ? did she do something that Shortened her Calf Muscles faster then usual ? what about me ? we live more or less the same lives...

I hope your book will help, after visiting your site i am sure it will be

Please answer me as soon as possible...

thanks in advance

Y.K. - 13 Mar 2002

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This page was last edited on December 17, 2005.
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