... as described by
Jennifer Lawrence in USA TODAY
I
have arthritis!
Originally
diagnosed as 'degenerative
osteo-arthritis',
it was first noticed several years ago when playing my regular 9-hole
golf game on Tuesday mornings. Friends commented that I was limping.
Shortly thereafter, my left knee pain ensued. I began medicating
with the advertised herbal pill remedies...name them...I tried them
all over a couple years without relieving the arthritic pain. I then
consulted a recommended physio-massage-therapist. Bohdi Haraldsson
(Icelandic) who was an instructor at the local therapy college, and
had his own practice, treated me weekly. Also a specialist in
acupuncture, he administered this treatment with little or no
success. His advice to me was, “Discard
your high heels today!”
He further stated, “Women love them....but arthritis is no friend
to them!”
Arthritis could be caused from 'wear and tear' on the joints.
Recreational sports were my forte ! Skiing, summer and winter tennis,
dancing a couple times a week, golf.
Could also be caused from constant standing and walking in high
heeled shoes. Bohdi's diagnosis was correct. He recommended I take
water-therapy a couple times per week. It was very relaxing for a
few hours...then the former pain would again return. The therapist
loaned me a magnetic mattress upon which to sleep; in addition I wore
an ankle bracelet...to no avail. X-rays and specialists indicated
arthritis was attacking other body areas: right knee, hips and back.
Surgery was not an option...their best advice was 'learn to cope'
with it. I could have worse diseases! So now, Tylenol taken daily is
my relief...and I walk with a butterfly-decor cane...frequently using
a 'walker' when carrying items.
I comment here that I never wore high heels constantly...
usually a half-day in the classroom or on real estate appointments
then resorted to 'flats' remainder of the day.
A
Red-Carpet Must for A-Listers and Most Actresses
Where
Fashion Trumps Comfort
(Excerpts from an article by Donna Freydkin)
“Flat
shoes BANNED from Cannes Red Carpet
after
organizers insist all women wear high heels.
Regardless
of age or medical condition,
all
women must wear heels to screenings.”
Somehow,
while promoting her thriller, 'Sicario'
at Cannes Film Festival, Emily Blunt became the saviour of soles.
“Everyone should wear flats, to be honest. We shouldn't be wearing
high heels any more,” she said at a news conference after reports
that women were turned away from a gala premiere because they weren't
in heels. “That's my point of view. I just prefer wearing
Converse sneakers.”
Jaime Maser, a New York-based public relations guru who has handled
many glitzy red-carpet galas stated, “While I wish it came down to
comfort, there are certain situations where style comes first ~ and
when you're a celeb, one of those situations are red carpets. It's
part of the job...to dress the part.”
Most
women do opt for heels because it makes them feel
'dressed'...elongates the legs and pulls the look all together, but
they are not for everyone. At the end of the day, it depends on the
look and how you feel. The dress will speak to you. But, no
trickery can compensate for comfort. For many women, it's a mindset.
“Heels are
instant power and confidence,” says
Aliza Licht, longtime fashion publicist.
The author examples several actresses with quotes about pros &
cons of 'high heels'.
The
Physical Truth about Wearing High Heels
True
'perfect pumps'
can
create the perfect storm for permanent health problems.
If you frequently wear high heels, you are setting yourself up for
long-term issues.
“Extended
wear of high heels and continually bending your toes into an
unnatural position can cause a range of ailments ~ from ingrown
toenails to irreversible damage to leg tendons. Also, cramming your
toes into a narrow toe-box can cause nerve damage and bunions,”
says Dr. Nevins. “High heels are further linked to overworked or
injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee(s) and low back
pain.”
In addition, Plantar Fascilitis can develop: a foot injury...whereby
walking (even a short distance) is excruciating!
Dr.
Nevins states, “When you wear shoes with a heel 2 inches or higher,
your foot slides forward in your shoe, forcing the toes into the
unnatural shape of the shoe and
redistributing your weight incorrectly ~ causing your body to tilt
forward...and to compensate, you lean backwards and over-arch your
back ~ creating a posture that can strain your knees, hips and lower
back.
To
change this position of your spine puts pressure on the nerves in the
back
and
can cause 'sciatica'...a condition where nerves
become
trapped, trigger pain and numbness as far down as the feet.”
Recommendations to Avoid These Problems:
Choose sensible heels (1 ½ inches or less) with a wide heel base
(spreading the load more easily).
Narrow stiletto-type heels provide little support; 3 inches or higher
may shorten the Achilles tendon.
Wear soft insoles to reduce the impact on your knees.
Ensure your shoes are the right size, so the foot doesn't slide
forward. Select a shoe with a wide enough toe-box to allow you to
wiggle your toes.
Wear heels only on days that require limited walking or standing.
Alternate your shoe choice throughout the day...or from one day to
the next.
Stretch...take time every day to stretch calf muscles and feet. Dr.
Nevins recommends standing on the edge of a step with your shoes off;
with the weight on the balls of your feet and your heels extending
off the edge, drop your heels down to stretch. You can also put a
pencil down on the floor...and try to pick it up with your toes.
Your feet are your base of support.
If your feet aren't happy ~ nothing above them will be!
Merle Baird-Kerr...written May 24, 2015
To comment...email to:
No comments:
Post a Comment