Party Shoes

WILL YOUR SHOES MAKE YOU A FASHION VICTIM THIS PARTY SEASON?

As the party season heats up, some of this summer's hottest Womens Shoes are putting women at risk of serious damage and long term foot, knee, hip and low back pain, according to the NSW branch of the Chiropractors' Association of Australia (CAANSW).

CAANSW Vice President, Kerein Earney, said many of these injuries could be avoided if women knew how to select shoes that were both stylish and supportive.

There are plenty of designer shoes for women available that look good and feel good too.

"We're certainly not suggesting people team their little black cocktail dresses with a sturdy pair ofsneakers - but there are steps we can all take to better care for our feet," Ms Earney said."Among this season's most popular styles are several good choices including the peep-toepump, the ballet flat and lightweight wedges. On the flipside, the platform heel or any particularlyhigh or heavy shoe should be avoided at all costs.

"We've all experienced painful feet after a night of partying on a pair of killer heels - but mostpeople simply aren't aware of the significant long term damage that can affect the spine, musclesand nervous system.

"High heels throw the centre of gravity forward, causing us to lean backwards to keep from fallingface first. This overcompensation often leads to low back pain, while instability through the anklecan put additional strain on the knees and hips."

Ms Earney said injuries were more frequent during the party season and included fallen arches,bunions, muscle tenderness in the legs, as well as pain through the heel, arch and toes."Sprained ankles are also common resulting from falling or twisting off a pair of high heels,especially after too much Christmas cheer."

Ms Earney said women who plan to party on a pair of high heels should avoid walking for longdistances.

"High heels and skinny stilettos concentrate your entire body weight onto a couple of tiny bonesunder the ball of the foot and onto something smaller than a five-cent piece under the heel.Ms Earney said a visit to the chiropractor would help party-goers avoid longer term damage."A chiropractor will assess and adjust the feet to restore the natural mechanics, as well as adjustthe knees, hips and low back to re-establish proper mobility," Ms Earney said.

Twenty-one year old Paula Mills, who has been wearing high heels regularly since she was 12,said she was now paying the price for years of teetering on towering stilettos.

"I have experienced all the common problems of blisters, bunions and calluses, but I never knewthat wearing high heels so often was causing significant damage to my body," Ms Mills said."The heels have caused my foot muscles to develop in an unnatural way and that has in turnresulted in lower back pain, balance issues and misaligned hips.

"It was reported recently that Posh Spice has been advised to have surgery on her feet to correctthe damage caused by her fetish for ridiculously high heels, and I certainly don't want to go downthat track.

"I'm now seeing a chiropractor twice a week for treatment which involves correcting the musclemovement in my feet and regular spinal adjustments.

"I also wear Spinal Pelvic Stabiliser Foot Levelers with my shoes, which are designed to give thefeet, hips and back extra support," Ms Mills said.

"There's no doubt a gorgeous pair of heels can make a woman look and feel beautiful - we justneed to choose styles that are supportive and won't cause long term damage and pain."

CAANSW'S TIPS FOR CHOOSING FROM THIS SUMMER'S HOTTEST STYLES:

o Gladiators - the Roman style is still strong this summer, and the good news is there areplenty of flat options in stores. Ensure the strapping is not too restrictive and doesn't interferewith the natural mechanics of the foot.

o Platform heels - these should be avoided, however, if you have your heart set on a pair,choose a low, lightweight platform. Heavy shoes put your legs under extra strain, while theheight leads to additional instability in the ankles and knees.

o Peep-toe pumps - a good choice for the party season as they provide good grip and supportaround the whole foot. Steer clear of towering stiletto varieties.

o Wedges - choose a lower, lightweight wedge heel that will provide stability without throwingyou off balance.

o Ballet flats - these are a good option providing support right around the foot while allowingyou to maintain your natural centre of gravity.

o Sling back sandals - ensure the sling back strap is not too tight because this will restrict theankle and foot movement, leaving your knees and hips to overcompensate.

o Dress thongs - most thongs do not provide enough support across the top, so we actuallygrip onto the shoe by curling our toes up leading to sore, tired feet.