Fashion With Your Chiropractic Health in Mind
Keeping up with fashion trends is important, but it may not be good for your health. Many people focus so intently on looking stylish that their bodies suffer the consequences. They may look great, but feel terribly uncomfortable.
This season’s runways are showing the usual: high heels, tight pants and miniskirts, and an overabundance of accessories. But these looks can wreak havoc on the body, resulting in back, spine, leg, and neck pain. Women are wearing these huge heels and overstuffed handbags all day, not just to walk down a runway, and they are not conscious of the effects these fashion trends are having on their bodies.
Wearing high heels is not just uncomfortable; they can cause damage to the feet and back. Women who wear them may not realize this scary fact. High heels force the musculoskeletal system of the body to adapt to a new and different equilibrium, because they throw off the body’s natural balance. The pelvis tips forward when high heels are worn for any extended amount of time. This forces the normal curvature of the spine to change in order to keep a center of gravity. If one stands with flat feet, the body is perfectly balanced. In contrast, high heels compel the hamstrings to tighten and the pelvis to maintain the body’s equilibrium.
Men, as well as women, are known to sacrifice function for fashion. But it is mostly women that wear clothing that may be too tight. These items look good, but they may be too tight to feel good. Easy, everyday movements like walking, bending, and sitting become labored in clothing that is too tight. Being uncomfortable in tight clothing can also put the body off balance, as an uncomfortable person may demonstrate poor posture and spine misalignment.
Carrying heavy purses, handbags, and backpacks is another fashion trend that is having a terrible effect on the body. Some people carry bags that add up to more than ten percent of their own body weight. If you carry a heavy bag on one shoulder, the spine tends to curve toward that shoulder, resulting in the shoulders being unnaturally counterbalanced. It is quite common, especially for men, to keep a heavy wallet in a back pocket. Carrying this extra weight is not necessary and could hurt the spine, as it’s detrimental to sit on an object for any significant length of time.
You can be in style and also take care of your chiropractic health. Here are the ways you can chose clothing and accessories that will both look and feel great.
Pick shoes that feel good when you are both standing still and walking. If you plan to wear high heels, it’s a good idea to bring along an extra pair of flat, comfortable shoes that you can change into afterward. Make sure your everyday footwear is supportive and easy to walk in so that your body weight is evenly distributed.
If you like to wear form-fitting clothes, make sure they are not so tight as to be constricting. Pick apparel that enables you to easily take part in everyday activities.
Make sure your handbag or backpack has adjustable straps. In addition, be sure to periodically switch your handbag from one shoulder to the other to evenly distribute the weight. Speaking of weight, toss out all the insignificant “stuff” in the bag, and place important items in easily accessible pockets.
Always remember that designers don’t create clothing and accessories with your well-being in mind. Take control of your style, and make sure you’re feeling as good as you look.