Dr. A. Armadillo here! And he’s got a holiday stocking chock full of advice to get you and your human-hooves through the holiday cocktail party season without doing any irreversible damage to the ‘feets’.

(If you’re asking who the hell Dr. A Armadillo is… then you have obviously been tardy to class. Click here and here… to review.)

All of you lovely readers who frequent this blog know by now that I love shoes. LOVE. L-O-V-E. (I’m not sure I can be much clearer, but if you’re lacking comprehension of this fact, please see my shoe blog.) In my humble opinion – ‘the higher the heel the closer to God’. I can sometimes hear my stilettos and booties calling out “Pick me! Pick me!” when I delve into the shoes closet to choose which pair will accompany me on my daily and nightly adventures. They are my friends.



Rest assured, I am aware that I will need withdrawal therapy for this someday. I am equally aware that the seasonal onslaught of holiday parties, dinners and events can lead to some serious pain-in-the-pedicure, heels and calves if a gals not careful. In fact, new research shows that wearing high heels regularly can even cause pain after you’ve thrown in the towel and switched to flats or bare feet. - What?! Why!?

If you’ll calm down, I’ll tell you. It’s ‘cause those pesky changes in your gait that naturally occur when you rock a pair of Louboutins tend to shrink and tighten calf muscles and tendons – and while ‘shrinking and tightening is good for the glutes’, it’s not necessarily so good for the lower gams.

So how, you ask, can you ‘be careful’ when your little black dress demands a sex-ay pair of sky-high heels to complete the look?

Podiatric surgeon Jacqueline Sutera, DPM (in collaboration with Dr. A – naturally) offers up the following ‘Rule of 3’ when it comes to pain-proofing your part-ay pumps. – It’s counting time! Wee!


1. Stick to heels no higher than 3 inches. – Ahem. Excuse me? I don’t think so. Well, I’ll try – not.

2. Don’t wear said heels for more than three hours without slipping them off for at least a few minutes. – This is totally do-able. A) Sashay in looking fabulous. B) Sit down all sexy and poised. C) Flip off heel under table or in plain view. D) Try not to flip shoe around on your toes – (I had a serious shoe flying towards someone else's face incident once – it’s dangerous.)

3. Wear 3 or more pairs of shoes of varying heights throughout the week. - It’s a small price to pay ladies… and there are plenty of flat and flat-ish options (ballet flats, amazing foldable shoes and low-ish platforms and wedges.)

Okay, Dr. Sutera (and Dr. A) you are starting to bring tears to my eyes with all of your demands, I mean, advice. And what if a gal (i.e. me) just can’t live up to such unreasonable expectations of sky-high heel abstinence?

Dr. S & A: “Try the Stiletto Stretch.”
Me: “What is this magical stretch? I am a Jedi to your Yoda. Please teach me.”
Dr. S & A: “Fine. * Sigh* Good God, why are you so odd?”

The Stiletto Stretch is a daily stretch that you a stiletto-addicted gal should incorporate into her workout routine. (Note to self: First New Years Resolutions: Install Daily Workout Routine.)

First, lean against something waist high – a bathroom sink, perhaps.
Second, Move your left foot 2 feet behind your right, keeping both feet flat, toes forward and left knee straight.
Third, Bend forward at the waist slightly, hold for 15 seconds, then switch legs.
Repeat 4 times with each leg.

Why am I singing the 'Hokey-Pokey' to myself right now? It doesn’t matter, because now I have a daily mantra: I will do the Stiletto Stretch. I will do the Stiletto Stretch. I WILL do the Stiletto Stretch. ‘Cause I’ll be damned if I’m giving up my Choos… um… shoes.



'til Next Time!