Prepare your feet for those HOLIDAY HEELS!

We are officially in countdown mode for the New Year parties, celebrations and gatherings.  The best way to complete your outfit are the shoes.  SHOE GAME is highly important to you and those party attendees.  WHY? you ask, at your next party, check out what every one will do, when you walk in the room.  They will check your outfit from your head to your feet.  Whether you are going solo or with a partner you have to ensure that you are confident in your outfit and wear it well. 

                                                                                                            
Reading Womens Health facts about, those holiday heels:

"One-inch heels can increase the pressure on your feet by about 22 percent," says orthopedic surgeon Steven Raikin, M.D., of the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia. "Two inches can add up to 57 percent, and three inches can add a whopping 76 percent." That pressure means toes are crammed into a tight area, and the long-term results can be very unsultry bunions or clawlike hammertoes. What's more, so much weight shifting onto the feet causes calf muscles to clench up and eventually tighten, making it hard to walk normally even on days you wear flats. Platform and wedge shoes are a bit kinder, but most still have an unnatural incline, says Catherine Cheung, D.P.M., a podiatrist in San Francisco.

Who would have thought ....
"Women have narrower heels and weaker joints than men do," says Frank Valente, D.C., a chiropractor in Manhattan. "Plus, irregular menstrual cycles and lower-fat diets can decrease bone mass, putting women at increased risk for ankle sprains and dislocated foot bones." Also, wider hips mean that some women are predisposed to walking knock-kneed, which can throw off the body's alignment and stance, and potentially lead to foot injuries, says Eric Horton, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in San Diego.

Here are a few tips on keeping those toes protected:

• Try not to stand or walk around in heels higher than two inches for more than four hours straight
• Purchase the right size shoe.  (Feet can spread and grow in adulthood)
• Orthopedic inserts to support the heel and arches of the feet with cushioning
• Maintain a healthy weight (With every pound gained = 3 lbs of pressure on the ankle region of your body)
• Keep feet limber i.e. foot streches (ankle and calf) and knee extends   

Check the article and more at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40782124/ns/health-womens_health/from/toolbar

 (Picture by Shoedazzle.com)