High Heels May Be Sexy But They Don’t Half Damage Your Calves

Top Fitness & Lifestyle Coach Warns Women To Toe The Line

Women who regularly wear high heels may feel they are doing all in their power to look sexy and thus feel good doing so, but the damage being done at the same time to their calves could make all that effort to look good be very costly in the long run (and probably even worse if any running is carried out).

That’s the view of Tim Hayes of Tim Hayes Lifestyle Fitness; one of the UK’s leading Personal Trainers and increasingly sought-after spokesman for the industry.

Tim is in the top 5% of personal trainers in the world and has worked all over the globe with clients from all walks of life, from stay-at-home mums, to busy executives, to A-list celebrities and top international models. He has helped many stars achieve their ideal shape in preparation for work commitments and high profile public events

So when it comes to heels and high-heeled shoes, Tim knows what he is talking about.

“In fact it’s all to do with the kinetic chain,” says Tim confidently. “It’s common knowledge that high heels shorten calf muscles. When the heel is elevated the calf is put into a shortened state and over time will naturally adopt this position. Without getting too technical our bodies operate in a chain of systems that work together called the kinetic chain. The four main points are the ankles, knees, hips and thoracic spine (upper back). Put simply if any of these areas are not moving how they should it will have an effect throughout the entire chain as they try and correct the problem.”

Basically, if a calf muscle is shorted ankles may internally or externally rotate. This will put strain on the knee as it tries to correct the imbalance. The supporting muscles of the knee in the upper leg will consequently rearrange themselves leading to a muscle imbalance.

“Moving up the chain the hips then realise there is a misalignment below and will, in the case of a shortened calf tilt arterially, that is your bum will appear to stick out and there will be an excessive curvature in your lower back,” Tim adds.

This in turn puts undue pressure on the thoracic spine leading to stress and pain through the shoulders and neck. Of course, this is a general diagnosis and may vary from client to client, but the bad news is in extreme cases some women will need to stay out of their beloved heels as much as possible until the relevant imbalances have been corrected.

“The good news is,” says Tim,“is that this can be corrected reasonably quickly (depending on the client) and you can get back into your heels as long as appropriate functional movement is continued.”

Tim, who is one of the world’s most highly qualified mobile personal trainer, has an undergraduate degree, a Diploma in Sports Science and is a qualified Diet and Nutrition Coac. He is also a certified Boxing Coach and Kettlebell Instructor and has specialist credentials in Pre and Post-Natal Exercise, Corrective Exercise, Programme Design, Core Conditioning and Scientific Back Management.

http://www.timhayesfitness.co.uk

About Tim Hayes Lifestyle Fitness:

Tim and his Lifestyle Fitness team are dedicated to best results for each of their clients, designing personalised training programmes that take account of their unique lifestyles and underlying health conditions. He takes the trust placed in him seriously and only employs Personal Trainers who meet his exacting standards. The focus is on correct technique – unlocking the right muscles at the right time with the right method – and on creating a fitness training experience that is fun, sustainable, safe and ensures that individual goals are always met.

Tel: 020 7096 9396

Subjects