Fashionable Suffering Web Exclusive

So — arthritis and sprains and bone spurs be damned, you say, you are not going to give up your heels or your filled-to-the-brim satchels? We hear ya. And we won’t even judge you for putting your stiletto-ed foot down on that one — but please, at least listen to these tips from the pros for saving your body a little grief while enduring your fashion choices. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to not have to pay for extra doctor visits these days?

If you insist on wearing heels, keep these Dr. Sara Bouree-approved tips in mind:
• Try to not buy heels that are more than two or three inches high. The higher you go, the more unnatural a position your foot is in — and the more gravity that’s pounding down on the tiny little ball of your foot.
• Buy heels with a wide forefoot, so your toes aren’t smushed into a teeny space, and all on top of one another, which leads to hammer toes, bunions, and corns.
• Look for heels made out of really soft, malleable leather that will mold to your foot. The stiffer the shoe, the harder it is to cram your foot into the tiny space.
• If you do wear heels a lot, try to do something like yoga, which can realign your body. Walking in heels tilts your pelvis — which might look hot, but can lead to lower back problems that can truly last forever.
• No matter what kind of heels you wear, and especially if you’re wearing them every day, do the ugly commute. Whether you’re walking or taking public transportation, save your feet and wear sneaks, Uggs, flip-flops or some other flat when it truly doesn’t matter what you look like. Your feet will be happy for every extra non-heel minute you give them.

If you insist on toting around bags that weigh as much as your four year old, keep these Dr. Michael Paul-approved tips in mind:
• Keep a heavy bag close to your center of gravity. The further away from your body that it hangs, the weirder you have to twist yourself all around to support it. You want to keep your posture as good as possible.
• Don’t let a heavy bag hang lower than two inches above your waist. Carrying a heavy, low-hanging bag makes you have to compensate even more on the other side, throwing your body completely out of whack.
• If you are carrying around a lot of weight, divvy it up into several smaller bags, and distribute the weight evenly on each shoulder. Don’t keep it all on one side.
• If you are carrying around one heavy bag, keep switching shoulders. Don’t make one side do all the work.
• Keep a small bag with you during the day, so if you’re just running out of your office, you can throw the few things you need in it, and don’t have to lug your ginormous bag with you wherever you go.