The higher you are, the higher the risk of developing a herniated disc.

Wearing high heels every day for many years can lead to changes in the wearer's bone structure. Standing or walking in high heels is like standing on an incline, causing the back muscles to work abnormally hard, leading to fatigue and tension. This is because the spine and back arch lean forward to maintain an upright posture and balance, placing increased weight on the lumbar spine. Over time, this can lead to chronic pain or even herniated discs compressing nerves, causing severe back pain, numbness, and even radiating pain to the neck.

The dangers of high heels.

In addition to increasing the risk of falls, increased height also places more weight on the body, as follows:

• A 1-inch heel increases the weight bearing on the toes by 22%.

• 2-inch heels increase the weight bearing on the toes by 57%.

• 3-inch heels increase the weight bearing on the toes by 76%.

The heavier you are, the higher the risk.

When the structure of the intervertebral discs becomes unbalanced or shifts from its normal position, caused by regularly wearing high heels, it results in...

– The muscles in the back can become injured and inflamed.

– This causes numbness and weakness due to a herniated disc compressing the nerve.

– Abnormal body movements occur, causing problems with standing or walking.

While it's difficult to get women to stop wearing high heels, reducing risk factors and maintaining strong back muscles is an effective way to reduce the risk of herniated discs.

Prevention guidelines

1. Choose shoes with a wide toe box for added comfort and balanced weight support.

2. Weight management is crucial; being overweight increases pressure on the spine.

3. Exercises to strengthen back muscles and core muscles. Exercises to strengthen the core and back muscles.

4. If unavoidable, warm up your leg and foot muscles by stretching your legs before putting on high heels, and take them off occasionally to rest your feet. Alternatively, regularly massage your feet to stimulate blood circulation.

Caution

1. Avoid wearing high heels or stilettos that are higher than 2 inches to reduce the pressure on the spine.

2. Avoid wearing high heels for extended periods, as this puts pressure on the ankles and impact on the knees, potentially leading to osteoarthritis.

    

Treatment guidelines

1. The choice of medication depends on the type of back pain, as directed by your doctor.

2. Physical therapy and exercise to increase flexibility and strengthen the back and abdominal muscles.

3. surgery

   
   

If you experience persistent back pain, numbness in your legs, radiating pain to your hips, numbness in your feet, difficulty walking or standing for long periods, chronic pain lasting more than 1-2 weeks, or begin to experience muscle weakness or incontinence, these are signs of a neurological problem. Your doctor will evaluate your condition and treat it with surgery.

Therefore, when symptoms occur, do not ignore or neglect them. Seek treatment early, as each person's pain tolerance varies. If the pain is severe, or you suspect spinal nerve compression, see a doctor immediately for treatment.