Put your party shoes on… Hayley offers tips on how to look fab all season long! Women’s Health 25th Nov 2014
by Charlie Lambros
5 EXPERT TIPS TO SURVIVE THE PARTY SEASON IN HIGH HEELS
Put your dancing shoes on because we’ve tapped one of London’s top physiotherapists for her expert tips to keep your heels – and feet – looking fab all festive season long…
Fancy shoes? Very festive. Blisters and sore feet? Not so much. But don’t fret – Hayley Jasper from Six Physio (sixphysio.com) shares her expert tips with us to keep your tootsies looking terrific so you can dance the night away in style…
1/ BEFORE THE PARTY
“Before slipping into your heels, place feet flat on the floor. Keeping the ball of the foot down, lift all toes and stretch them apart as much as you can. One by one replace your toes down in turn, starting from the little toe and softly grip the floor with them.”
2/ WAITING IN LIKE FOR THE LADIES (NATURALLY)? USE THE TIME FOR SOME FOOT THERAPY…
“Point your foot down to the floor, extend the big toe whilst curling the four other toes under your foot. Gently press down through the foot as if you’re trying to make a ‘thumb print’ with your big toe and hold for 30 seconds. This may be uncomfortable but should not cause pain. Reverse this stretch and curl the big toe under and stretch the other four toes out in front.”
3/ STAND IN STYLE
“Improve your stance by pulling in your abs, tucking your tail bone under and lifting your chest bone a little to bring your centre of gravity back to midline. You should feel the weight shift from your toes back into the weight bearing joints in the ankle. This takes pressure off your toe joints and as you step forwards you should now achieve heel strike.”
4/ KICK OFF YOUR HEELS ON THE CAB RIDE HOME
“Relieve stiff toes by placing a foot on the opposite knee and slide your fingers between each of your toes and place the thumb on the ball of the big toe. Gently flex the toes downwards whilst applying pressure through the base of the big toe.”
5/ BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR SLIPPERS ON
“Relieve tightness in the arch of your foot by cupping and grasping your heel firmly with one hand and with the other take the big toe between your thumb and first two fingers. Gently stretch them away from one another in a lengthening motion and with the stretch applied rotate your toe back and forth.”
Happy holidays, but most importantly – happy dancing!
