Shortened tendons from wearing high heels

creamysbrianna · 6th August 2004, 00:28

Has anyone experienced shortened tendons/muscles from wearing high heels too frequently and/or too long?

Lucy · 6th August 2004, 08:03

Try:

1. Reading my Chapters 22 to 24 of my "Lucy's Story" (see "Stories With
A Heely Theme" Forum near the bottom of the Index).

2. log on to stuckinhighheelssupportgroup@yahoogroups.com

3. Try Sending a PM to Anita C, an American lady member who has mentioned having this problem.

4. Have you tried delving back into the countless past threads for this topic? I'm pretty sure it will have been fairly exhaustively covered from time to time. Look for "shortened tendons", "permanent high heeled" etc. etc.

Love, Lucy.

Skirted-UK · 7th August 2004, 00:24

Yes, one winter when I was off work I wore 4" heel court shoes nearly everyday for 6 months. When I went back to work in the Spring the tendons in the back of my legs had shortened so much that I soon pulled the tendons in both legs by running and jumping down from a boat. It was very painful for weeks and in both cases I could not put my foot flat on the ground. The only relief I could get was to wear high heels.

Somewhere on this board is a topic about high heel women, women who have worn high heels for so long that they can't wear flats, my sister in law falls into that category.
This was a common problem for women in the 50's & 60's when stiletto heels and skirts were more popular, but nowadays most women wear flat shoes and trousers.
we men spend so little time in high heels in comparison to women that it's not likely to affect us.

Bubba136 · 7th August 2004, 02:15

for those that are curious to know what happens when a person choses to become a extreme high heel wearer 24/7 (all the time) should find and read Susan (the original)'s story.

genebujold · 7th August 2004, 16:02

Since this is creamysbrianna's first post and probably can't find all the earlier posts about this issue (I tried, and I couldn't find them, either) I thought I'd foster a new thread for those of us new to it!

The rest of you who've heard it time and again can just move on to whatever's new to you...

Yes - unremittent high heel wear will result in tendon contraction!

Our bodies are, above all else, efficient. They will only maintain what they absolutely need to maintain. When my brother had knee surgery 22 years ago, and his leg was in a cast for 6 weeks, his muscles had atrophed to about 75% their previous size.

When we fail to get proper cardiovasular exercize for six weeks in a row, our heart muscle does the same thing.

After mere months of reducing how much stress we place on our tendons and joints, and the length to which our tendons are extended, you will find them in the middle of adjusting to their new "duty cycle."

When you finally notice a change, you're already behind the power curve!

The only way to maintain healthy muscles, tendons, joints, bones, heart, and cardio-vascular system to put it through it's paces three times a week or more, whether you feel it's warranted, or not.

For those of us habitual heel wearers, that includes 20 minutes, 3 times a day, of walking over varied terrain in flats. If I can do it with the condition (and pain) of my ankle, so can you - and it will make your high-heel wearing all the merrier!

For all of us, that would also include, as an absolute minimum, of cardiovascular exercise (getting your heart rate into its training range), three times a week for twenty minutes at a time.

Do that and you'll be healthy!

silver · 26th September 2004, 21:56

So, if you do "touch your toes" exercises, that should help too, right?

Is it possible to be born with short tendons, because I can't touch my toes.

Just how often must you wear high heels for your tendons to shorten?

JimC · 27th September 2004, 02:24

I cannot touch my toes, but I mostly feel it in the upper part of my leg when I try, so I am suspecting heel use is not to blame :)
That, and I've never been able to touch them without bouncing.. *shrug*
Jim

highheellover · 27th September 2004, 05:45

nope I haven't had pain.

J-Nation · 28th September 2004, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimC

I cannot touch my toes, but I mostly feel it in the upper part of my leg when I try, so I am suspecting heel use is not to blame :)
That, and I've never been able to touch them without bouncing.. *shrug*
Jim

ooh, you shouldn't really 'bounce' when doing stretching stuff like that - you run much more risk of straining/damaging something - much better to do slow, gradual stretching.
Emma

JeffM · 28th September 2004, 01:23

I agree with Emma
Push yes
Bounce no