by A.N. Browne
 

Mahagonybutterfly.com

Spring has finally arrived and for fashionistas looking to stay fab, open-toe sandals, platform wedge heels and sky-high stilettos in vibrant hues are sure to be a regular part of the footwear rotation.

Not even the best pedicure, however, can save your feet from the long-term -- and some times permanent –- effects of constant heel wearing.

We sat down with Laurie Sullivan, a certified pedorthist and owner of Foot Solutions (in Annapolis and Bethesda, Md., Alexandria, Va., and Washington, D.C.), a supportive footwear store, to discuss what women can do to help protect their feet, while still being stylish.

What is a common myth associated with women, their feet and high heels?

First, let's talk about what isn't a myth: If you wear heels the vast majority of the time, you really can shorten your Achilles tendon, which means it becomes very uncomfortable (and in extreme cases impossible) to put your foot flat on the floor or wear flat shoes.

Myth: You will inherit your mother's bunions or grandma's hammertoes. There isn't a bunion gene. What you do inherit is the structure and flexibility of your feet. If your mother had very flexible feet that pronate, or roll in, which is often the cause of bunions, and you inherit the same type of foot she has, then you, too, are more likely to develop bunions because your feet will do the same.

What type of preventitive footcare do you recommend for women who constantly wear heels?

When you're at home, the grocery store or running errands, wear supportive, low-heeled shoes, preferably, with an arch support insert. Ideally, you will want to use one that is custom made to your feet, but a good quality over-the-counter version can be very helpful, too.

[If you buy inserts at a drug store] Keep in mind, however, that most over-the-counter arch supports aren't high enough. Manufacturers cannot put a very high arch in their products, because if a person with a relatively low arch were to put a high arched product under their foot, it could cause a twisted ankle.

High heels put over 80% of your weight on the balls of your feet, force you to overwork the thigh muscles, put extra strain on your lower back and can lead to a number of foot issues like bunions and neuromas, or pinched nerves.

If you minimize the stress to your feet and body when you are doing a lot of standing or walking activities, then when you’ll be ready to put on those heels for work or an evening out. They’ll be less beat up to begin with.

Besides not wearing them at all, what can a fashionista do to help combat the common foot problems associated with wearing high heels?

A pedorthist can be a girl's best friend when it comes to making high heels fit well and feel good by using devices to help align the foot and redistribute pressure.

When most women try shoes on, the heel may slip and they go down a half size to stop the slipping. You have to understand that high heels are always going to create a fitting challenge, because your feet are resting on a slope. Unless they are fitted properly, you will always slide down into the toe of the shoe.

A pedorthist can help you get the proper room the foot needs and stop the slipping without cramming the foot into a shoe that is too small. Corns and calluses are always the result of a poor fit. Using arch supports and ball of foot cushions can ensure that your foot is sitting straight inside the shoe and that pressure is more evenly distributed across the entire foot.

Where can people find Foot Solutions stores?

Foot Solutions has over 200 stores throughout North America and has many stores internationally, including the UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia and India. There is a store locator on the Foot Solutions web site at www.footsolutions.com.

Test Drive These Products

3/4–length Dress Arch Support Inserts: The sculpted insert fit into nearly every shoe I wore. They did, however, feel more comfortable when I wore them with heels versus flats.