Long-term Effects of Wearing Heels

Everyone loves to wear heels but did you ever think about what it does to your calves? Wearing high heels can cause calf tightness because your ankle is constantly in a plantar flexed position (toes pointing downward). This position increases the contraction of the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus). Over time, wearing high heels can shorten these muscles which would lead to tightness of the calf muscles and potentially pain/muscle strain.

No need to worry! Physical therapy can help! Physical Therapy helps by providing relief through stretching, strengthening exercises, manual therapy, modalities, footwear education, and postural assessment.

Do I Need Equipment to Exercise?

When it comes to exercise, many people think they need fancy equipment to achieve their workout goals. However, this is not true. In fact, there are plenty of exercises you can perform without any equipment by just using your body weight. Body weight exercises use your own weight to create resistance. Some examples of body weight exercises are:

Squats

Push-ups

Planks

Lunges

Burpees

You can progress these exercises by increasing the reps, time, and performing different variations. Also, cardio exercises do not require much equipment either. You can run, walk, do a HIIT workout, pilates, yoga, or dance workout in your home. It is always best to vary your workouts to keep you motivated and to build strength, cardio fitness, and muscle endurance.