High Heels

Finding that wearing high heels is painful?

As the foot's natural padding thins with age, gel inserts and soles are a must. You'll still feel the burn in heels over 3.5cm (one and a half inches) high, and in shoes where the heel is set back, so keep them for special occasions.

For general wear, the heel of a shoe should be under the centre of the heel.

If you wear heels a lot, your calf muscles can shorten by as much as 13%. To help prevent this, stretch your legs regularly by standing barefoot on a step and dropping your heels towards the floor. Try and alternate high heels and flat styles.

On the other hand, if you spend most of your life in flat shoes, then wearing heels on a night out is likely to be painful. Wearing the same height shoes every day means your calf muscles set in a fixed position. So vary heel heights.

Good Housekeeping, February 2014 and September 2016