In a decision lauded by many, a private Ukrainian airliner has revamped the uniform of its flight attendants, replacing those sharp-pointed heels with comfortable sneakers. The new uniform of Ukraine’s SkyUp airlines was officially launched on October 22. A flight attendant with the airline told news agency Reuters that heels do “look beautiful”. However, by the time the flight ends, “feet suffer and swell”. Also, it isn’t ideal in the case of an emergency, during an evacuation as the heels would damage the ladder.
Heels do look fashionable and sexy. But like every other thing, it has its fair share of flaws. In fact, if we talk about this piece of footwear, it can have a damning impact on your health, especially regarding your feet, knees, and even spine. And to understand many such effects, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr. Shubhang Aggarwal, Orthopedic and Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon, NHS Hospital, Jalandhar. Here is what he has to say:
Health Impact Of Wearing Heels For Long
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“High heels are extremely dangerous in the long run,” said Dr Aggarwal. This is how it impacts your health:
- Wearing heels for a long time can change your posture.
- It causes your spine to hyperextend at the lower part and causes the ground reaction force that is normal as you walk, to travel up into your spine. This can lead to spine and knee arthritis in the long run.
In the short term, it can lead to:
When you wear heels, you tend to walk on your toes even though there is support in the back. “This toe-toe walk causes bending at the knee and excessive patellofemoral pressure leading to knee pain,” said Dr Aggarwal.
How Can These Effects Be Prevented?
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“Fashion and comfort rarely go together,” the doctor said. Hence,
- The designers need to understand that comfort needs to be incorporated in the design of the stiletto.
- If you do want to wear them, make sure you do not wear heels for more than two hours.
- Make sure they are well-fitting and the back strap is padded.
Which Ones Are The Best Shoes To Wear?
The best shoes are those that
- Offer good cushioning
- Better grip
- Non-skid soles
- Flexibility at the base of the toes.
These ones are the best shoes for you as far as the foot's health is concerned. Such shoes include loom sneakers, loafers, and wedges.
The Ukrainian airliner made the decision that is much welcomed. However, it is not the only one it took. In its uniform revamp for women, it has also replaced pencil skirts with blazers and trousers, and tight buns or ponytails with braids. In a statement, the company said that it did research into the history of cabin crew uniforms and then decided to give up what it termed as the “conservative” elements of the dress code. Up until now, the female dress code has been officially launched. For men, the vest will be replaced with a light blue shirt and shirts with T-shirts. Regarding footwear, black sneakers will be introduced.
However, this isn’t the first time in the aviation industry that such a step has been taken. Last year, Japan Airlines too dropped high heels for its female crew for comfortable footwear of their choice and pencil skirts for comfortable trousers. In 2019, Virgin Atlantic airline allowed its female crew to no longer wear makeup. Similarly, Norwegian Airlines has also allowed its staff to wear flat shoes and they no longer have to carry mandatory cosmetics on board.
Also read: Perform These Yoga Asanas To Cure Heel Pain
(With inputs from Dr. Shubhang Aggarwal, Orthopedic and Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon, NHS Hospital, Jalandhar)
Photo Credit: Freepik