It’s no secret that Carrie Bradshaw had a penchant for designer shoes. (A closet full of Manolos doesn’t lie.) And even though she mastered the art of strutting in stilettos, I’d bet the Louboutins-I’d-like-to-own that even Carrie’s feet hurt every now and again!
Let’s face it, ladies. High heels can be a real pain in the foot...excuse me…feet. Still, a survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association shows that nearly 43% of women will smile through the pain and continue to wear them. The good news? There are now a slew of beautiful ways to soothe your soles. One of the hottest new spa trends is high heel treatments, everything from a comprehensive foot fitness training program to a “Magic Clay Slipper” to an ancient Chinese foot massage. SpaFinder’s Sallie Fraenkel fills us in on ways to treat your feet after wearing killer heels!
Why are so many treatments for high heel addicts popping up? The trend of sexy high heels has created major foot problems, from run of the mill sore feet to misalignment that results in back/knee pain and problems. A recent ABC News story states that the average high heels today are now 6-inches, with some extreme heels being as high as 11-inches. With 3 ¼-inch heels increasing the amount of pressure placed on the forefoot by 76 percent, you can imagine the stress it puts on your body with heels double that height!
What are some of your favorite new treatments? I’m really impressed that spas are offering such comprehensive treatments, especially for foot health! One of the best is Yamuna Foot Fitness classes in NYC. And for your readers anywhere, Yamuna sells a Foot Waker Kit, which includes a DVD and these great Foot Waker balls for foot exercises you can do right at home, easily.
Spas are also offering multi-treatment packages, many with fun names like the High Heeler (Mohonk, NY) and Healthy in Heels (Canyon Ranch, Las Vegas). These packages include special massages for feet and calves, stretching, and scrubs and treatments with herbs like peppermint that are great for pain relief.
In addition, treatments like The Spa Montage Pedicure (Spa Montage, Laguna & Beverly Hills, CA; Park City, UT) offer products like Anti-Fluid Gel and Spa Technologies Drainage Oil. These products both assist in reducing swelling and aches, and are wonderful for moving fluid that builds up after standing in heels all day long.
How much do high heel treatments cost? A simple pedicure can cost as little as $20 and run up to $250 for specialty treatments like Ajune’s (NYC) new medi-pedi, which is supervised by a Podiatrist.
So, what’s the word on the street? Feedback has been great! These treatments are definitely in demand, especially with so many women wearing heels everyday. In fact, some are willing to do anything to continue wearing high heels, including injecting botox into their feet to counteract the damage being done by their shoes!
What are some DIY tips and tricks to help alleviate high heel pain at home? Jill Cassidy of Joseph’s Pilates recommends trying:
Ankle A,B,C's: Take your shoes off and draw the ABC's in the air with your foot. This exercise will strengthen the ankle, and the rotation and movement will draw blood into the foot.
Toe Tapping: Take your shoes off and while keeping your heel on the ground, lift the ball of your foot off the ground as high as you can. Lower your foot and repeat.
Toe Corrector: Put a thick rubber band (like one that goes around broccoli) around the big toe joint on each foot. Place your feet on the floor while sitting and "pull" your toes away from each other. This helps avoid bunions.
Check out some of the spas across the country that are accommodating fashionistas by clicking here.
