A lot of women wear high heels on a regular basis for the aesthetics of looking taller and accentuating their calves. Some women even wear high heels because they think it can burn more calories. Believe it or not, some gyms offer classes where participants wear high heels during the class to help tone their leg muscles and shape up. So can wearing high heels really be a workout?
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Here are the downsides of wearing heels:
Discomfort and sore feet are only a small part of what may lead to future problems, including:
- Long term discomfort, rather than just during and right after wearing the high heels
- Strain on knees, tendons, and quads
- Decreased walking speed which generally causes less walking, which is a healthy exercise
Heels can boost your confidence because of your legs looking longer and the accentuation of your calves, but is it really worth the risk? If you plan on wearing heels, be sure to do some before-and-after stretches to ensure healthier feet and legs.
Stretching your tendons:
Your tendon is where your heel and calf meet. If you stretch before a workout, why not stretch before wearing heels?
Here’s how:
Step 1: Stand on a curb or step.
Step 2: Let the heels of your feet hang over the edge.
Step 3: Put all your weight on your toes so you rise up. Hold the pose for 2-3 seconds then stop.
Step 4: Repeat step 3 nine more times.
Reducing your risk of falling:
33% of women have fallen while wearing heels, according to the American Osteopathic Association. To reduce your risk of falling and hurting yourself, do 25-50 lateral hops with a resistance band. Lateral hops are hoping side to side. The resistance band will aid in flexing your feet.
Working out your feet:
Who doesn’t like foot massages? Even if you don’t wear heels, you can still enjoy this.
Step 1: Get a small ball, such as a tennis ball, and place it on the floor.
Step 2: Stand on the floor with one foot on the ball and one on the floor.
Step 3: Roll your foot back and forth on the ball for a minute. Be sure to still have your balance on your other foot. If this is too hard, hold onto the back of a chair for balance.
Step 4: Repeat Step 3 with the other foot.
Building core muscles:
High heels can put strain on your feet and ankles, and on your back as well. Here are some ways to strengthen your core:
- One-legged tree yoga pose
- Abdominal crunches
- Planking
- Modified planking
- Side planking
- Single-legged or double-legged abdominal presses
Remember this: everything in moderation. High heels are okay to wear at times. You don’t need to stop cold turkey and throw all your pairs away. If you are afraid of future implications, you can reduce how long and how many days a week you wear high heels, wear lower inch heels, make sure you do the stretches and exercises meant to help you with wearing heels, and you can always speak to you doctor about any concerns you may have.
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