High-heeled shoes are not that bad.

Only facts

Talking about the conflict between beauty and comfort, or about harm to office life, heels are remembered almost in the first place. It is believed that they promise us problems with the spine, joints, varicose veins, thrombosis and other troubles.

But here are some facts: a woman in high-heeled shoes loads her spine three times more than those who wear ballet flats or a wide, stable heel, and a kneecap – 26% in the case of a high stiletto heel and 22% if it is stable. heel. We are talking about a really high (more than 7 cm) heel: a lower height, by opinion of researchers from Harvard, is within the physiological norm. The optimal heel height is 4–5 cm (depending on the size of the foot). Wearing flat-soled shoes is also not useful, as it gradually leads to deformation of the arch of the foot and deterioration of its shock-absorbing properties. The best option is to change the heel height and last shape frequently. It is not so much the height of the heel that is important as the correct distribution of pressure on the foot and good cushioning – or, in other words, the right, high-quality shoes.

Prevention

Shoes with heels can be quite safe for health, the main thing is to respect your own body, says Galina Kuznetsova, editor-in-chief of the specialized edition Shoes Report.

“In the evening it is worth spending 15 minutes to do gymnastics (elementary“ scissors ”or“ bicycle ”), take a foot bath. In addition, today you can buy a variety of gel pads – for the arch, under the heel, under the toes – that will reduce pressure and minimize stress on the feet. When choosing shoes, you can give preference to shoes with anti-shock heels, which soften impacts on the ground, or shoes with special shock-absorbing insoles. And take advantage of the opportunity to change shoes (and heel height) as often as possible. ”

Careful fitting

“Shoes with heels should be comfortable from the first try-on – don’t expect them to spread and sit on the leg,” advises Natalya Kosyakova, senior sales assistant at Firmato & Scontato.

“The main thing to pay attention to is a snug fit of the entire foot surface, including the arch, to the insole. It is desirable that there is no gap between the instep support and the arch of the foot, otherwise the pressure on the toes increases. You need to try on shoes while standing on a hard surface. (Fleecy mats, which are used in boutiques, so as not to damage the varnish on the soles of expensive shoes, often interfere with objectively assessing the comfort of shoes during fitting.) Some imperfections can be corrected with leather and silicone insoles and half insoles, “fitting” the shoe to the foot. But it’s better to take care of your legs – there are only two of them. And there are a lot of beautiful shoes ”.

Between aesthetics and comfort

A heel can be of almost any height as long as it is stable, says Irina Derkach, a shoe designer.

“There are a few things to consider when choosing shoes with heels. Firstly, the heel should not be overstated, that is, shifted towards the heel relative to the sole, it should not go either to the side or back – regardless of the load on it. It is better to give preference to stable heels. The ideal combination of aesthetics and practicality is considered to be a 7 cm heel. Higher – it is already difficult to keep the balance. If a woman wants to look taller, you can choose shoes with a hidden platform. It is better to buy shoes with high heels in the evening, when the leg acquires maximum volume due to physiology. “

Shoes as an extension of the leg

When choosing shoes with high heels, the main thing is to understand how intensively and in what conditions we will wear them, says Nelly Rakcheeva, chief designer of Ralf Ringer.

“From the point of view of technology, the heel height of 7 and even 8 cm allows us to make a comfortable last, in which the distribution of weight on the foot will be quite even over the entire surface. These shoes can be worn for several hours without much stress. You need to try on shoes the way you intend to wear them – with or without tights. The undercarriage of the shoe is very important for safety: nowadays, installations of rubber and TPU in the leather sole are successfully used to reduce slipping and increase comfort. It is better to choose shoes in which the foot feels free: in the summer, the foot is prone to swelling, and in the winter, an additional small volume will keep it warm. Even if the shoes seem comfortable, don’t be too lazy to try on a pair that is half a size or even a size larger – it often turns out to be even more comfortable. For example, Sofia Lauren always buys shoes one size larger. ”