Insoles for High Heels

A high heeled shoe is a classic style that, in some areas, is still seen as the standard for professional dress. While the width of the heel may change with trends, the height never seems to go down. And while we’ve all seen the television trope of the woman with her shoes off under her desk, rubbing her feet, the seemingly inevitable discomfort that comes with wearing heels doesn’t seem to slow people down. But heels can do more damage than just a few hours of sore feet. Read more to find out why the style might not be worth the pain.

Why might high heels cause pain?

According to the International Journal of Scientific Study 1, heels can cause pain due to a number of factors including a change in the way the ankle is positioned when walking, a increase in the lordotic curve of the spine, and a change in pressure distribution in the foot. With such an incline under the heel, there is little to be done to mitigate the change in mechanical alignment of the body, but some factors, such as pressure distribution in the foot, might be able to be addressed by a device such as a shoe insole.

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Do insoles help with heels?

While this hasn’t been widely studied, there are some smaller studies that show that discomfort relief can be achieved 2 through the use of high heel shoe inserts. When the heel is raised, the forefoot bears more pressure than when it is in a neutral position. A shoe insert for high heels can distribute that pressure back to other parts of the foot, taking some of the load away from the forefoot and increasing comfort.

For High Heels We Recommend:

The H-Series gently provides structure for pressure reduction and comfort in a thin, flexible design that fits well in a low-volume of shoes. The H-Series provides the structure and comfort you need to wear heels all day long.

H-75
H-75

Designed to conform to heels 2 ½ inches or higher with a non-removable insole.

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What are the best insoles for heels?

As we mentioned above, the relief that comes with inserts for high heels is all about pressure distribution. This means that simply putting some pads or foam under the forefoot might bring some added comfort at first but is unlikely to make a big difference when wearing your shoes all day. A high heel shoe insole will likely be most effective if it is a full-length insole that can provide arch support and distribute pressure away from the forefoot.

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How can you get used to wearing high heels?

Unfortunately, wearing high heels more often is unlikely to make the experience more pleasant. In fact, there are other conditions associated with frequent high heel wear 3 such as hammer toes, corns, and bunions. Really, your best option for comfort when wearing high heels is to find a good high heel insole, or shoes with built-in pressure distribution technology. It also helps to wear high heels only occasionally, or to have an alternate pair of shoes to commute in if high heels are an expectation in the office.

1. High Heels Footwear Causes Heel Pain and Back Pain: Myth ... (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2021, from http://www.ijss-sn.com/uploads/2/0/1/5/20153321/ijss_nov_oa23.pdf

2. Yung-Hui, L., & Wei-Hsien, H. (2005, March 05). Effects of shoe inserts and heel height on foot pressure, impact force, and perceived comfort during walking. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687005000050

3. Mallet toes, hammer toes, claw toes, and corns. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00325481.1984.11698001?journalCode=ipgm20

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