There are very few women in the world who are not fascinated by high heels. Unfortunately high heels are not known to promote good health. They are associated with back pain and discomfort.
For women, when it comes to heels, the higher the better. Very few know that these killer heels are actually killing more than their wearer can imagine. Around one in 10 women wear high heels at least three days a week. Around one-third have fallen wearing them.
A study has revealed that high heels are one of the biggest factors leading to foot problems in women; a third of whom suffer permanent problems as a result of prolonged wear.
“Extended wear of high heels and continually bending your toes into an unnatural position can cause a range of ailments, from ingrown toenails to irreversible damage to leg tendons. Additionally, cramming your toes into a narrow toe box can cause nerve damage and bunions,” says an expert in the field. High heels have been linked to osteoarthritis of the knee, overworked or injured leg muscles, low back pain and fasciitis.
Regular use of high heels may lead to shortening of calf muscles and back muscles. This may result in pain and muscle spasms. Women who wear high heels usually suffer a shortening of the Achilles tendon.
Footwear designer Silvia Fado may have the right solution. She has come up with shock absorbing Kinetic Traces high heels. This high-performance footwear is designed keeping functionality in mind. Silvia has used springs, pneumatic hydraulics, metal rings and rubber balls in order to absorb impact. She has strived to make the footwear comfortable to the ladies who own them.
Silvia Fado said, “The principal functions of footwear are often sacrificed in fashion… This project brings sports footwear fundamentals to high-end fashion as sports footwear is based on function and wearability, both very important elements for design features that must interact with the body and be usable by the wearer.”
Plenty of work has gone into this footwear. Silvia has studied shoe weight, impact absorption, traction and durability of the product. In fact she has closely worked with a photographer and an architect to study the structure and movement of her footwear.
Silvia has channeled her research into a range of flexible designs that feature different kinds of heels, with different mechanisms that include rubber balls, hydraulics and springs. She has used materials like steel, wood and acrylic to make these shoes. The upper part of the shoe is made of high-quality leather. It is created using traditional methods and is colorful and well-designed.
Some people are of the opinion that these shoes are representative of potential solutions rather than for actual use. The designs are a touch too radical to be worn everyday. A woman may not be comfortable using them daily, unless of course she happens to be the great Lady Gaga.
This footwear may be another designer experiment, to be viewed and appreciated. Ladies feel more comfortable in tried and trusted brands.
Leave a Reply