RENOWNED HIGH-HEEL FOOT DOCTOR, SUZANNE LEVINE, REVEALS HER TRIED AND TRUE TIPS FOR MASTERING THE HIGH STYLE WALK OF STARS…AND ACHIEVING BETTER HEALTH IN THE PROCESS
With entertainment awards season in full swing, celebrity fashion, hair styles and makeup are being analyzed everywhere in the media and social circles. But what do the stars do to get their feet in shape for that long walk to potential glory on heels that make them look as tall as skyscrapers and with straps that bond their ankles like gladiators (and look as painful as being ripped apart by lions)? As internationally renowned podiatrist, podiatric surgeon, author and leading foot expert Dr. Suzanne Levine knows, it takes more than just a pretty coat of toe nail polish to survive tabloid “do’s and don’ts” and strut down the red carpet looking flawless from head to toe.
“In my estimation, it should be toe to head,” says Dr. Levine. “Your feet are the foundation of good health,” she continues, “and if they hurt your entire body falls prey to physical and mental side-effects that can lead to more serious problems like knee, hip and back injuries along with foot fractures about which you may not even know.”
Eighty percent of Americans have something wrong with their feet and 62% do nothing to correct these problems. You may not be destined for Hollywood, but you can’t go anywhere in life if your feet are in pain. The following tips will get you walking with effortless style by the time Oscar comes to town!
1. TREAT YOUR FEET LIKE YOU WOULD YOUR FACE – “We tend to pay less attention to our feet, because we don’t look at them every day in a mirror,” says Dr. Levine. “But feet can tell you many things about what’s going on systemically in the rest of your body through vascular health, nail discoloration, nerve conduction, swelling, diminished temperature and biomechanics alone.” Women (and men) spend thousands of dollars a year on skin care products and services for their face but relatively nothing on their feet. Dr. Levine recommends a foot facial to patients for the ultimate therapeutic treatment. This procedure includes expert nail cutting and removal of calluses with razors and tools that are surgically clean to prevent bacterial or fungal infections as well as acid peels, deep moisturizing masks and a kin check for foreign bodies. Visuals : tools
2. GET REGULAR TUNE-UPS – “Your feet are our most important means of transportation,” says Dr. Levine, “so why don’t we treat our feet as well as we treat our cars?” She recommends daily and weekly treatments for both men and women. “Use a pumice stone or file on calluses every time you take a shower, wash and moisturize your feet thoroughly everyday. File your toe nails weekly to keep them from getting too long, and if you get monthly pedicures, make sure the facility is clean and that the beauticians are accredited and extremely skillful. And once a year, after 40, see a podiatrist for a check-up!” As with many other areas of your body (mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate), there are things going on inside your feet you may not even know about from years of wear and tear and loss of cushioning like hairline fractures and bone spurs, not to mention what’s visible to the eye like calluses and bunions. It’s essential to take care of issues that can have more debilitating side effects as soon as possible. Dr. Levine also stresses the over-the counter remedies can cause more problems in the long run and are not a suitable treatment for serious problems. Visuals: products
3. EXERCISE YOUR FEET, THEN….GIVE THEM A BREAK– “This is where the rubber meets the road,” says Dr. Levine. ˆ Everyone knows that aerobic activity is essential for maintaining good health, strength, bone mass and weight control, but your feet aren’t working properly, it’s impossible to get enough aerobic activity to keep you in shape.” A self-described high-heel shoe fanatic, Dr. Levine encourages men and women to wear shoes they love and feel stylish in, but to vary their shoes during the day. “It’s not the best look out there, but walking to work in comfortable shoes like sneakers does make sense. Then you can put on your high heels at the office. Or, if you must show-up looking picture-perfect, slip on more comfortable shoes to wear under your desk–or better yet, take off your shoes altogether and do foot exercises under your desk while you work.” Dr. Levine recommends exercises like pushing a gas pedal up and down, doing circle eights, picking up a pencil with your toes or rolling your arch around the top of a tennis ball to maintain strength, flexibility and good circulation in the feet. And to make sure your feet are bio-mechanically sound, do the following quick tests on a regular basis: stand on a stair or book that is three-inches off the ground and see if your heel can easily touch the floor; try to separate your toes — they should readily move apart; walk on the outside and inside edges of your feet to see if there is any pain. Visuals: show foot exercises
4. UPDATE! – This not only applies to keeping abreast of the latest shoe styles, it means re-measuring your feet every six months with a proper foot measurer to assess the true size of your feet. “Age, hormonal changes, changes in climate and weight gain–even as little as five pounds–can cause the feet to change in size, and improperly fitting shoes lead to myriad problems,” states Dr. Levine. She also advises assessing the shoes in your closet once a year. “I have a collection of classic shoes I keep on bookshelves in my office because I can’t bear to part with them–that’s how much I adore these shoes! But, even if they are still stylish, they no longer fit, and I just can’t wear them. You have to get rid of shoes that are too tight, even if you only wear them for a night…there’s no end to the amount of damage poor fitting shoes can do. If you must keep them, I suggest using them as bookends instead!” Visuals: explain how to properly measure feet
5. IF THERE’S ANY PAIN, THERE’S NO GAIN – “We’re conditioned to suffer in the name of beauty and while doing athletic activities in our culture, comments Dr. Levine. But when it comes to our feet, a little pain does a lot of damage.” Dr. Levine, who has pioneered many techniques used in the field of podiatry created Pillows For Your Feet ™ — it’s a trade secret every high-heeled, red-carpet starlet in-the-know subscribes to. “As they get older, women and men lose cushioning on the bottom of their feet–not so much from age–but as a result of doing sports, ballet, extensive standing and of course, wearing high heels. This can result in terrible pain and a burning sensation.” By using a combination of ultrasound therapy and injectable implants to the bottom of the foot, the natural growth of collagen is stimulated restoring the foot’s padding to a more plump and youthful state. Marked improvement occurs after only a single treatment. Dr. Levine also recently created a revolutionary new technique called . The light’s wavelengths increase connective tissue (carpal tunnel, sprains, etc) wound-healing much more efficiently than lidocaine or psychical therapy. And there’s no complications, downtime or discomfort. The recommended course of treatment is tree to six sessions, but results are often achieved instantly. Visuals: show procedure or diagram to illustrate.
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DR. SUZANNE LEVINE is a Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon who has been named one of “America’s Top Podiatrists” by the Consumers’ Research Council of America and is among the most acclaimed podiatrists internationally. She enjoys tremendous peer recognition and has been repeatedly voted one of the most influential podiatrists in the United States by her colleagues. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Levine has revolutionized podiatric surgery from her Park Avenue practice. She is also a highly regarded instructor and teacher and co-chairs the International Aesthetic Foot Society. She has authored six books about the foot and also created a best-selling line of proprietary foot, face, and body care products that are available for purchase on both the Institute Beauté website and the IAFS website.
Dr. Levine is featured frequently as NBC’s foot care expert on The Today Show and WNBC’s Today in New York. Her past television credits include Oprah, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, 20/20, The View, and Nightline. She has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Magazine, Vogue and Departures Magazine.
Dr. Levine’s guiding principle is that that if you fix your feet, you will have a better life. Her goal is to help her patients get where they want to go in life–even if it’s in a pair of stilettos!
