MY PRAYER FOR YOU

“I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb.13:20-21)

HIGH HILL SHOES

High heels are a fashion staple, but what kind of damage are you doing to your body wearing them every day?

The high heel is probably the one thing that every woman has at least one pair of in her closet. More women are wearing heels, and they're wearing them for longer, especially as the shoes are seen as the staple for office wear.

However, significant long-term damage may be the result of women donning high heels for longer periods. As many as a third of women are already suffering permanent problems because of the fashion statement, and it is almost a certainty that the effects will be felt with more seriousness in later life.

The cause of the damage is the higher pressure placed on the ball of the foot, and the higher a heel is, the greater the pressure. A woman's entire centre of gravity is pushed forward, and, although this provides us with the more attractive 'boobs-and-butt-out' shape desirable by men, more pressure is placed on your spine, the nerves in your back and feet, leg muscles, and neck muscles. This is not to mention the constant risk of slipping and twisting an ankle, or falling.

Here are some of the health risks you face if you're one of the one in ten women who wears a high heel shoe at least three days of the week.

Twisted Ankles or Torn Tendons

If you aren't used to wearing heels, or are wearing a different height of heel, you may often twist your ankle by mis-stepping or misjudging the heel. If the heel is very high, twisting can result in serious damage, such as torn tendons. Also, you might be more injured depending on where it is you fall - down the stairs would not be a good idea...

Sciatica

Sciatica is a condition that is quite painful: it sees nerves in the legs and hips become trapped between bones, muscles or ligaments. Remember, the pressure is distributed throughout your entire body, so there is any number of places a nerve could be trapped. The entrapment results in pain and numbness as far down as the feet.

Pump Bumps

Pump bumps are bony enlargements on the back of the heel where the hard backs of heels or the heel's straps constantly rub. If you suffer from blisters in that region often, it is a sign that your shoes are too tight at the back.

Back Pain

Because you compensate for the change in your centre of gravity by leaning your torso forward and pulling your shoulders backward, your back muscles become strained, constantly trying to keep you upright.

Bunions

Bunions are bony growths that form at the bottom of the big toe. They are caused by shoes that don't fit quite so well. Because of the growth, the toe begins to lean towards the other toes. The bump soon becomes painful and unsightly.

Knee Pain or Osteoarthritis

The body is thrown forward when you wear high heels, and this puts more pressure on the inner knee. The pressure could be over 25% more than if you were wearing flats. This can lead to degenerative joint diseases such as arthritis.

Morton’s Neuroma

If your heels have narrow toes, squeezing your feet into them may result in Morton's Neuroma, or a thickening of the nerves inside the foot. This causes a lump on the bottom of the foot, and also causes pain and numbness in the toes.

Damaged Leg Tendons

The Achilles tendon and the calf muscle are designed to be flexible, so that the foot can lie flat or point. When the foot points, these muscles are contracted, and if you wear a high heel often - since you're constantly pointing your foot - your muscles can actually shorten. This can be avoided by wearing heels no higher than 1.5 inches.

Posture Problems

Wearing heels places the heel above the toes. This is an unnatural posture, and in the long run can cause serious pain in the lower back and the lower leg, as well as in the neck.

Hammer Toes

Hammer toes occur when you squeeze your feet into high heels that don't fit quite so well. The toes curl up to fit into the shoes - shortening the toe muscles - and eventually all the toes become so misshapen that they can't be straightened.

Neck Pain

If you're wondering why your neck is always sore, it might also be because of the heels you wear. When your heel is sitting above your toes, your entire body is under pressure, leading to a stiffening of the back muscles, the shoulder muscles, and the neck muscles. If this takes place for a prolonged period of time, your neck may remain sore.

Heel Pain

Constant pressure in your foot can result in pain in your heel as well, although most likely not to the extent that the ball of your foot would be sore

Pain When Not Wearing High Heels

Eventually, after many years of wearing high heels, the muscles in your legs are so shortened that you might not even be able to put your feet flat at all. This is why some elderly people are seen teetering in high heels, because not walking in high heels is actually quite painful.

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