A high heel workout craze is spreading across the United States and destined for our doorsteps but the Australian Podiatry Association (NSW &ACT) is warning of the risks involved when exercising in your heels.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that while women have danced for years in heels women are now taking exercise classes that focus on the footwear as much as the foot work.
Association board member and Podiatrist Brenden Brown said that while classes that help you walk and move in high heels could have benefits there are high risks of injury and classes should be professionally supervised with care.
“Practicing anything has its plusses as that’s how you get used to a way of doing something, such as walking or moving in heels but care needs to be taken as the risks of falls, twists, breaks and strains run high if the exercise is high impact or not supervised properly,” he said.
“Learning proprioceptive behaviour or understanding where the body is in space can help improve balance and how to move in heels while walking and dancing, but again proper supervision and low or non-impact movements should be made to minimise injury.
“Any classes that provide abdominal, core strengthening, floor work will help with posture and be helpful when moving around in high heels. However, I would advise all these strengthening and balance exercises required to help learn how to best wear heels be done in bare feet or trainers, not in the heels themselves,” said Brown.
“We are never going to stop women wearing heels or going to classes like these, but podiatrists like myself will always caution about putting undue stress on your feet which can lead to serious injuries, foot pain, ingrown toenails and hammer toes,” he concluded
If you have foot pain and wish to find your local podiatrist in NSW and the ACT visit
www.podiatry.asn.au or visit your state’s Association.
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