To think your body can adapt to heels?

Arch support is a myth. The human foot arch is a miracle of physical engineering, strong enough to withstand load and springy enough to power a sprint. The key is exercising it like any other hard working body part - heel raises, heel drops, going barefoot, lots of walking. Most people can develop strong healthy arches - it’s the opposite of the deformation talked about above.

I used to wear heels all day every day. Then some extra weight and Covid hit. Now I just can’t do it.

it makes me a bit sad because they are so pretty but not enough to make me go through the pain of retraining.

Totally flat shoes don't work for most people because there's no arch support.

Why is she poking her knees forwards and leaning back in the last picture? That is not how most people stand when wearing high heels, and she’s wearing flat heeled boots.

Substitute the word adapt with the word deform. In adapting to heels your normal body is deforming itself to cope with something unnatural to its normal working. It puts stress on the joints and muscles. This is going to lead to problems one way or another.

I used to love heels. Then I worked in the NHS and switched to flats, now I’m totally converted to barefoot shoes and boots and surprise surprise my 10 year constant lower back ache has gone! There’s loads of reasons why heels are bad but this visual was what made it click for me. It’s all a case of what’s important to you, and now I couldn’t even dream of wearing heels or even non barefoot shoes. There are prettier options out there too.

this website has tons of info and is where the image came from.

https://anyasreviews.com/ufaq/how-do-barefoot-shoes-affect-my-alignment/

Not that it would restore health or take away pain, sadly; but I think this should blow up and become the new PPI scandal, personally.
Any woman who was ordered or coerced to wear significant heels in order to be allowed to keep her job has very demonstrably been put at a huge disadvantage and should, at the very least, quality for a hefty compensation pay-out.
Proving it was obligatory might be a challenge, especially when it goes back some years; but at least it would now put the frighteners on any modern-day bosses seeking to order women to endanger their long-term health, just because the senior management and dinosaur clients find it a grubby turn-on to see them in heels.

Yes was also one of these people, even had a boss that would not allow us to wear trousers even though it was legal to do so.

Also a previous very high heel wearer, always wore heels didnt even own flat shoes, high instep and always walked on my toes when didnt have heels on, met a man who was a massive walker, think peak district, so bought my self a pair of walking boots, i now at 63 can not wear heels havnt worn them for 8 years, but last year i bought some 2.5 inch heeled sketchers ankle boots, they are SO comfy i can walk quite easily in them, so i think shop around find comfortable.

The back pain suggests you have a pretty weak core to me, which is a problem generally anyway. Do you do any exercise?

This sounds plausible. I am very fit, which may make a difference.

Not that it would restore health or take away pain, sadly; but I think this should blow up and become the new PPI scandal, personally.

Any woman who was ordered or coerced to wear significant heels in order to be allowed to keep her job has very demonstrably been put at a huge disadvantage and should, at the very least, quality for a hefty compensation pay-out.

Proving it was obligatory might be a challenge, especially when it goes back some years; but at least it would now put the frighteners on any modern-day bosses seeking to order women to endanger their long-term health, just because the senior management and dinosaur clients find it a grubby turn-on to see them in heels.

You will pay the price later down the line though.

As I am now.
I used to wear heels to work. I would walk a mile to the station, then walk from the tube to work, then do the same on the way home.

I have bunions, flat feet and arthritis in one of my big toes and can't wear anything more than 1.5 inches high without being in agony.

My feet definitely unadapted during lockdown.

i used to wear heels every day for work, maybe I was numb to the pain, but I just can’t do it anymore.
Long live the white trainer fashion.

Wow. Strong statement!

The back pain suggests you have a pretty weak core to me, which is a problem generally anyway. Do you do any exercise?

I would probably a) wear flats for a while b) make sure your core strength and posture are decent.

Some of us don’t get any pain.

Yes your body does adapt. Slowly. Heels can change the curve of the spine, the orientation of the pelvis, thicken your tendons, adjust your stride, slowly adjust your joints. I think your back also does something to account for the change in your centre of gravity? Won't happen overnight, but prolonged wear and you physically adapt. My mum was advised not to go more than a week postpartum before she put her heels back on or she'd 'lose the knack'.

This article suggests that the older you get the longer it takes/harder it is for your body to physically change - www.womanunclouded.com/all-articles/get-them-off-cant-wear-high-heels-anymore?rq=heels Also talks about the longterm detrimental affects of wearing them. Glad I've never really bothered!

I remember a boss once telling me that heels are to a woman what a tie is to a man. They complete the outfit, make you look smart and feel powerful. I laughed out loud (was genuinely worried he was going to sack me, was just an impulsive response). Ties don't make basic life more difficult, they don't make walking and standing painful. Hardly the same! Ugh.

I think there is a problem with the definition of “heels”, particularly on MN. Some people think only stilettos while others include the far more easy to live with block and wedges. I’m in the latter camp.

I tried very hard with heels in my 20s. Never got used to them. I was always in pain after 15-30min walking. I gave up in the end. Some of us might just have lower pain threshold, who knows why.

I also agree on the weight thing. When you think about it, it makes sense. The more weight bearing down on the feet, the more painful it will be.

I’d be more inclined to take this as a warning OP. As others have said, yes you could train yourself to wear them but at what cost?

I'm sure you can adapt over time if you think it's worth it, but if you're planning on wearing them the majority of the time your feet are in shoes just be warned as my aunty wore heels her whole working lofe as she was a PA and it was expected, now she can't actually walk bare foot comfortably as her calf muscles have shortened or tightened so much that she wears slippers with a small heel even at home in her 70s now.

Re: the older women mostly being the only ones to wear heels now - a while ago yes. I remember doing an actual double take in Tesco a couple of years ago seeing a woman shopping in high courts and a pencil skirt, sometime as we came out of covid era. And thinking that looks soooo dated, heels are never coming back.

Now i see heels creeping back.

I have 3 lovely trendy 20 something daughters and see them and their mates when they're going out out. Heels are coming back.

However - it's not so much the ubiquitous stiletto courts of Princess Kate fame, it's more block heels and wedges.

I haven’t worn heels for years and live in DMs and Crocs. But then again, I am in my 60s…
My 24 year old DD never wears heels. She always looks elegant without them and I think teaming boots and trainers with dresses and smart trousers looks edgey.
IMHO heels make women look weak and feeble. For a wedding or night out, wedges or a kitten heal are a good compromise and far more comfortable.

I'm a foot and ankle surgeon. I have the same opinion of heels as most lung surgeons do about cigarettes.

A self inflicted disaster.

When a woman wears them with confidence and elegance, it does look attractive.
BUT !!!!
Just why?
Women have worn too tight corsets in past times just to look as though they have a teeny waste.
In some cultures tiny feet (on women) was a thing.
Those rings around (womens) necks, are absolutely frightening.
I'm sure there's a lot of other "fashion" fads that (women) had to be either endured, or persuaded were to beautify them or make them look alluring.
When do men ever have to be uncomfortable?
When women go out on the town, they shiver in flimsy clothing, whilst the men get to wear trousers, shirts, jackets... all warm an comfortable...

I'd say wear what you want, but sometime later in life, you may pay the price, and what for?

Just my thoughts.

I don't think you can wear them occasionally and be pain free. You need to buildup muscles in your feet and calves and get your posture in the right place like ballet dancers do for pointe. When we are younger we are likely lighter and more flexible but that decreases with age.

Zendaya talk about doing doing foot and ankle exercises and learning to walk properly in the heels she wears and does so regularly.