your Beauty Our duty

If your feet are starting to look like the high heeled shoes you wear then maybe you have “high heel feet”, a termed used by Manhattan podiatrist Dr. Oliver Zong to describe the associated conditions that often accompany the excessive wearing of ill-fitting, high heeled shoes.

Dr. Zong describes the typical “high heel foot” as one that is triangular-shaped in the front like a high heel shoe. The big toe is pointing towards the little toes (bunion) and the pinky toe is pointed towards the big toe. The toes in between are often curled up (hammertoes) instead of straight and any or all the toes may have corns on them. There may even be a bump by the pinky toe called a bunionette or tailor’s bunion. It’s often the result of the foot taking the shape of the pointed-toed shoes their owners love, according to Dr. Zong. On top of that with the added pressure on the ball of the foot caused by heels, there are often numerous calluses present on the soles as well.

The average person takes 8-10 thousand steps a day. Multiply that by 365 days a year, over a period of 10, 20, or more years and imagine the pounding and wear and tear that your feet undergo. Now let’s take those same steps in high heel shoes. Are your feet starting to hurt yet? It gives new meaning to the saying “walk a day in someone else’s shoes!

Being in Manhattan Dr. Zong has seen his share of patients who have complaints from wearing high heels. “In the city, walking is often the only way to get around”, states Dr. Zong, “and since the pavements are not too forgiving, your shoes had better be.” Dr. Zong feels that excessive walking in ill-fitting shoes can turn a minor foot problem into a larger one. For example a small bump, bunion, or hammertoe that can be easily accommodated in a more comfortable shoe, may become unforgiving in a tight, pointed-toe shoe.

Over time with continued stress and pressure being applied to your feet, they can literally start to change shape. While the cause of the deformities may not solely be caused by shoegear, ill-fitting shoes can definitely exacerbate the situation. “Wearing proper shoes may not completely prevent foot problems from occurring, but wearing the wrong shoes can make foot problems worsen or occur sooner than they normally would have” adds Dr. Zong.

What can you do?

Once these conditions are present, they are unlikely to go away on their own. Conservatively, you can wear more sensible shoes. Shoes that are squared off are better than shoes that are pointy. If you already have a deformity, then you’ll need a shoe with more room to accommodate your foot. But if you still insist on wearing high heels, Dr. Zong recommends common sense: wear them in moderation, and definitely not for walking long distances. Soaking your feet or getting whirlpool treatments can also feel good. In some instances, you may have to see your doctor, especially if pain is involved.

Commonly, foot surgery is performed for these conditions. It may be to get rid of a bunion, or straighten out some toes, to get rid of corns, or to alleviate pain. Dr. Zong adds that in the worst conditions he performs what he calls “a forefoot smash” in which all toes are straightened along with the bunion and bunionette all at once. “No one likes to have surgery but sometimes it is the best course.

Sometimes your foot can become so traumatized that the only way to walk pain-free or even to fit into your shoes is to have surgery.” Dr. Zong cautions that surgery is not for everyone. “You should consult with your doctor before making any decision.”

“I’m in the business of saving soles” says Dr. Zong. “My job is to keep my patients walking so they can enjoy their lives. No one should be in pain, especially if there’s something you can do about it.”

About Dr. Oliver Zong

Dr. Oliver Zong is a podiatrist in Manhattan’s influential Financial District. As one of the premier cosmetic foot surgeons in the country, he serves as the Director of Surgery at NYC Foot Care and is on the Board of Directors at Gramercy Park Surgery Center. Besides traditional and cosmetic foot surgery, Dr. Zong is also an accomplished cryosurgeon and co-founder of the Podiatric Cryosurgery Center of New York. He is an attending physician at New York Hospital Downtown, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Cabrini Medical Center, and Gramercy Park Surgery Center. An accomplished foot surgeon, Dr. Zong is credited with coining the terms, “Foot Makeover”, “Foot Facelift”, “The Toe Tuck”, and “High Heel Feet”. For more information please visit http://www.nycfootcare.com/.