It’s that magical time of year when long summer evenings call for lots of parties and dancing the night away in the summer breeze… it’s also a time when our Physio Rooms are buzzing with holiday plans and plenty of party invites… and that means lots of drinks on ice!
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got your calendar full of invites for some kind of an event or party etc and you’ve probably already even planned what outfits you’re going to wear!
Anyhow, while planning what you’re going to wear and how you’re going to get home from your get-togethers, have you ever thought about the morning after?
For example, how is your head is going to feel after all of those glasses of wine and bottles of beer? What about the empty bottles and leftover nibbles you’ll have to clean up? And even how your feet are going to feel after dancing the night away?
Now I’m not trying to put a downer on your party plans, that’s not why I’m writing this to you today… my job is to make sure you make the most of your celebrations and feel great the next day!
Why? Well let me share with you a quick story about one of my patients from last year…
Sarah came to see me at the end of July suffering with a bad back. As a manager of a coffee shop, Sarah is on her feet all day long, so she always wears flat cushioned shoes so her feet remain comfortable.
But what happened to Sarah was that she decided to treat herself to a brand new pair of heels especially for her works summer party. And even though the right pair of heels can make an outfit complete, they can also cause a few problems…
Aching, swollen feet, and worse yet – terrible back pain.
Of course, while you’re enjoying yourself it probably doesn’t cross your mind. Sure, your feet may feel a bit sore while you’re dancing, but that’s normal right? The thing is, Sarah woke up the next day in agony, not from drinking a bit too much, but from wearing her new pair of heels all night long.
The pain in Sarah’s back was so bad the next day she could barely get out of bed. A few days later the pain eased off, but as soon as she went back to work, a few hours into her shift and her back was making it painful to walk around. Even driving and putting her shoes on became difficult.
Here’s why:
Wearing high heels (especially when you’re on your feet for hours) increases the pressure through your back by about 25 times. Heels can alter the way you walk (as it’s an unnatural position for your body to be in), which can lead to bad posture – bringing on back pain and all sorts of problems.
Now although it’s tempting to put on a pair of heels for any special occasion, if you know for most of the time you’re there you’re going to be standing, I’d advise you to go for a soft cushioned pair of shoes instead. You back and your feet will thank you for it.
And with all that dancing that usually happens at parties once everyone has loosened up, do you really want to suffer with a back back for days, even weeks, after?
I know heels look good and make you feel fabulous at the time – but is back pain that stops you in your tracks fashionable?
Definitely NOT!
And a general tip for the guys and girls – to help ease those next day aches and pains, drink plenty of water. And if you forget to drink lots of it before you go to bed, drink a couple of glasses as soon as you wake to help restore the fluids in your body.
Also, a hot and rejuvenating shower as soon as you wake will leave you feeling ten times better. It’ll help raise your body temperature and relax your muscles so you’re not left with lots of tension.
Finally, if you MUST don those heels, I really do advise taking them off if you’re going to be standing… better still, get yourself some uber comfortable low wedges. Not only do they look good, but your feet will thank you the next day!
