%){kind=logo}
BY ALICE OLINS
Why Victoria Beckham should give her feet a break
She suffers for her saunter
Oh yes, of course, she is a fashion designer these days. She has to look “on-trend” and “fashion forward” at every possible moment. Except, she doesn't. And the shoes just make her look desperate and uncomfortable. Every woman understands the power of a pair of heels; they give your walk a sexier lilt, they make you feel like Jessica Rabbit, and the extra heel height means you can look down on all your friends.
But at the weekend? And at a theme park? Give yourself a break, woman, if only for the sake of your health.
“If you increase the height of the heel, you're increasing the instability of the foot. In high heels the pelvis tilts forward and increases the curvature of the spine. Your spine tips backwards to correct the balance and this can cause compression to the lumbar sacral junction, which can lead to disc problems,” says Mike O'Neill, of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. With Posh's centre of gravity somewhere around her nipples in these shoes she seems to be on a white-knuckle ride at all times. But it isn't just the wobble that's the worry, non-stop heel-wearing also raises the risk of bunions, damage to the metatarsals and an increased risk of hammer or mallet toe. Bet these trends won't catch on anytime soon.
The height of the heel isn't the only alarming thing about this image, Beckham also seems to be wearing her perilous shoes in a size too big. However, this could be an illusion caused by the heel height, says Margaret Dabbs, a foot expert. “These shoes do appear to be too long for Victoria, but it could be that her foot has slipped down the shoe due to the extreme heel height. Her foot also looks more pronounced than you would expect, as the positioning of the highest part of her foot (the navicular) is over the arch and her heel is not being supported in the correct place.” Aside from Beckham looking plain silly, Dabbs also thinks that she would be experiencing throbbing and swelling.
If you empathise with her heel addiction and suffer for your saunter, at least invest in some of the effective products on the market that alleviate pain. Insolia (from £5.95; www.simplyfeet.co.uk or insolia.com) is a rubber insert that shifts your weight back towards your heel (send a pair to Posh, quick) reducing the forces that can pull your body out of alignment, which in turn cause strain on your feet and legs. With these, apparently, you can wear your heels for up to four times longer.
March 4, 2009
Web link
