Wearing high heels has become increasingly common in everyday life. This habit can have negative repercussions on the health of the spine. Injuries related to wearing high heels can significantly affect the quality of life, so it is essential to consult a specialist if you experience pain after wearing them, as well as limiting their use to specific occasions.
How does wearing heels affect the spine?
Prolonged use of high heels can cause serious problems in the spine, as it causes the body to lean forward excessively. This altered posture forces the weight of the body to fall on three specific bones in the foot, which increases the pressure on them and can cause discomfort.
Besides, When wearing heels, you make an extra effort to maintain balance. The hips and spine undergo a change in posture to compensate for the bend, which causes an alteration in the alignment of the muscles and joints. This shift in the centre of gravity forward generates an overload in several areas of the body, particularly the lower back and legs.
Finally, it is important to highlight that Wearing heels can affect the anatomical curvatures of the body, and puts stress on many of your muscles and bones. This stress can result in muscle pain, stiffness, and even more serious injuries if proper precautions are not taken.
Pathologies caused by the use of heels
There are various pathologies that affect the spine and other parts of the body, the origin of which is directly related to the use of heels. One of the most common is chronic degenerative low back pain, a condition that affects a large percentage of the population. This pathology causes pain and stiffness in the lumbar area, making movement and quality of life difficult.
Wearing heels can also contribute to the development of lumbar lordosis, an excessive curvature of the lower back, or pelvic anteversion, which involves a forward displacement of the iliac spine. Both conditions alter the alignment of the spine, causing discomfort and increasing the risk of long-term injury.
In addition to the consequences on the spine, other parts of the body, such as the lower limbs, are also affected. Therefore, It is common for people who wear high heels to suffer from bunions or toe deformities, due to pressure and limited space in shoes. It is also common to inflammation of the Achilles tendon, an injury that occurs due to the additional stress placed on this area when walking in high heels.
Symptoms caused by wearing heels
As has been explained, wearing heels can cause various pathologies, which affect the patient's quality of lifeOne of the most common symptoms is lower back pain, which can radiate down the leg, causing symptoms similar to sciatica. This pain is due to altered posture and increased pressure on the spine.
In addition, it is common to experience tension in the calves or pain in the feet, caused by excessive pressure on the bones of the foot when wearing high heels. These symptoms can worsen over time if preventive measures are not taken, such as reducing the use of heels or consulting a specialist for appropriate treatment.
What to do if back pain appears after wearing heels?
When you experience pain after wearing heels regularly, it is important to go to a doctor. specialist traumatologist who can evaluate the patient's symptoms and apply the most appropriate treatment to each case.
First of all, a physical examination will be carried out, which will allow us to know the parts of the body that the patient has most affected. In many cases, it is often necessary to perform diagnostic imaging tests to help expand the information available, for example, x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging.
Treatments for pain after wearing heels
Once a correct diagnosis has been made, initial treatment usually includes rest to allow the body to recover. In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly prescribed to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the affected areas.
In many cases, physiotherapy offers very good results, since it helps muscle relaxation and strengthens the body's musclesA specialized physiotherapist can also guide the patient in postural reeducation, which helps prevent injuries.
In more severe cases, when conservative treatments do not produce the desired results and the patient does not experience improvement, surgical treatment may be considered. This option should be carefully evaluated by the doctor, who will determine whether it is necessary to improve the patient's health and quality of life.
Tips for wearing heels properly
There are certain guidelines that should be taken into account when wearing heels, which can be very useful to prevent injuries. First of all, The use of heels should be limited to specific occasions, such as a party or a wedding, where you will not walk much.
As far as possible, It is advisable to use heels that do not exceed five centimeters in heel, This type of heel offers better balance and weight distribution. It is also preferable to avoid very thin heels, which cause the weight to fall exclusively on the front part of the foot.
Finally, if pain appears or if you have suffered previous injuries, the use of heels is strongly discouraged, as they can aggravate these pathologies.
It is important to be aware of the risks involved in wearing heels, as well as to follow certain guidelines that can help prevent injuries resulting from their use.
Traumatology clinic for back pain in Madrid
When experiencing recurring back pain, it is important to seek specialized medical care to determine its cause and receive a proper diagnosis. Timely treatment can prevent the condition from worsening or causing additional damage. Prof. Dr. Elgeadi's team of spine specialists is trained to diagnose and treat your back pain in the best way.
If you experience back pain, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team, so that we can help you take care of your health as soon as possible.
9 thoughts on “Uso de tacones y dolor de espalda”
Thanks for the information, my question is if I can still wear small heels after my lumbar arthropod surgery and if I can travel by car after two months
Hello Adriana,
A priori everything depends on the results of the surgery, but if everything is ok and you endure it there shouldn't be any problem, but I don't know your case to give an in-depth opinion.
All the best.
I have a problem, when I change my shoes, at the slightest change in the height of the heel, the next day I get pain in my back on the right side of my spine almost at the height of my buttocks and hips. Once when I walked, it gave me very painful pain. strong like when a bone is dislodged and I couldn't move until whatever it was came back into place, it scared me because I couldn't move. And I only wear sneakers…
Hello María Rosa, without a doubt you have a strange pathology that must be evaluated in person. Please make an appointment with a doctor so they can explore it in detail. All the best.
Too bad... I love wearing heels 😪 I live in sneakers!
Hello,
I've been having problems for years. Even the slightest change in footwear—I wear a heel three inches at most—causes my lower back, glutes, and the outside of my leg. The pain can be severe, and I've seen tons of trauma specialists, physiotherapists, rheumatologists, and tests like MRIs, ultrasounds, injections, rhizotomy, and more, but no one can tell me what I have. I'm truly desperate. Please, I'd appreciate any help you can give me. I know it's a muscle pain, but I don't know if you could tell me which muscles I could stretch. Thank you so much. I'm from Barcelona.
Hello Alice,
Since the pain is related to changes in footwear and affects the lower back, glutes, and legs, it could involve the core, gluteal, and iliotibial muscles, among others. However, a personalized evaluation would be ideal to recommend specific exercises.
If you wish, you can schedule a consultation with our professionals by calling 910 05 39 00, where we can analyze your case in detail and guide you on the best approach.
Greetings.
Hello, I've worn high heels daily for 30 years. When COVID hit, I switched to a medical clog, standing for long periods of time, and lifting heavy weights. Two years later, I suffered a severe cramp from my lower back to my ankle. They did many MRIs, CT scans, x-rays and nothing came out, day after day I was more disabled, I couldn't move, I have a left transverse, I have been infiltrated 9 times between the spine and hip, I had hip surgery for a labral tear with 4 anchors, 2 years ago, after an arthroresonance, with a terrible recovery from cramps, I had surgery in October 2024 on the pyramidalis with the sciatic nerve trapped for 3 years and I have had a lot of relief, I can sit down, I am waiting for surgery for a labral tear in the same hip, seen by another arthroresonance, I have not been able to stand for a while for 4 years, without being able to abuse sitting, very short walks because of the cramps I get, medicated 24 hours, loss of muscle and limping, what more can I ask, I am 51 years old and my life is destroyed
Hello Natalia,
We are deeply sorry for everything you've been through. From what you describe, your case is complex and requires a comprehensive approach from a multidisciplinary team. Sometimes, after multiple interventions, the most appropriate approach may focus on functional rehabilitation rather than further surgery.
In order to determine the best treatment for your case, our team will need to thoroughly evaluate your clinical case and the studies performed.
If you wish, you can schedule a consultation with us so we can review your situation and evaluate options that will help you regain your quality of life.
Good luck and thank you for sharing your story.