Let’s please just face it! Our feet are the last things we take active care of. Infrequent pedicure and shoe-buying aside, how much do we really care about our feet? Not much, really. Compare the amount of time you spend keeping your face and hands in top form to the amount of time you spend on your feet and you will know exactly what we mean. And the truth is that caring for feet (and by extension, legs) is an important part of healthcare. Studies in the US have shown that most people have a foot injury of some kind by the time they reach the age of forty, and women undergo majority of common-problem foot surgeries.
And given that women are also slaves to fashion – think stilettos, kitten heels, wedges – the havoc that is played in the region of our lower extremities is massive! According to orthopaedic surgeon Steven Raikin, M.D., of the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia, USA (quoted in Women’s Health magazine’s online issue), “One-inch heels can increase the pressure on your feet by about 22 percent. Two inches can add up to 57 percent, and three inches can add a whopping 76 percent.” The fitting of toes into a narrow space, the elevated heels, and the pressure of walking like that can add up and lead to bunions, hammertoes and even cause calf muscles to tighten and become painful.
This is not to say that you have ditch your fashion sense if you care about your feet. It is important to take care, that’s all! Orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. K.N. Verma says, “Standing for several hours in high heels can lead to painful calf muscles. Another way to ensure healthy feet is to watch your weight, he advises. “Many people who come to me with problems in their feet and legs are overweight. In fact. women in India tend to be calcium deficient, causing their bones to become weak, and increased weight can only be detrimental.’ he says. Like we needed another reason to watch our weight!
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