Is It Time to Call the Fashion Police?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

If it’s one thing that I have imparted to readers the past few weeks it’s that your lifestyle can be at the root of many of the aches and pains that plague you.  Everything from being overweight to sitting at a desk all day long to daily stress can cause the spine and hence the body to become unbalanced.  These imbalances can cause a cascade effect that literally turns your body against you.  In order to cope with misalignment, the soft tissues of the body will try to cope by altering the tension in everything from muscles to tendons and ligaments.  Being elastic, these soft tissues like everything else in the human body have their limits.  Once these limits are met or exceeded, then pain is the inevitable way that the body tells you that everything is not as it should be.

Putting the spine back into proper alignment can be the first step toward reversing this downward spiral and correcting the situation that is causing pain.  However, if the underlying cause of the problem is triggered by a lifestyle choice then ultimately these also need to be addressed and corrected unless you want to have then entire vicious circle start anew. 

Do You Dress of Duress?

To start off the litany of fashion faux pas that are triggers for pain, I would like to quote the old adage, “My shoes are killing me.”  Footwear can and does play a major role in both the onset and severity of back pain.  While high heels are definitely at the root of many a female patient’s back problems, flip flops which are worn by both sexes can be just as deadly. 

A recent article entitled, “Are Flip Flops Bad forYour Health,” notes that, “From New York’s sweltering 

sidewalks to Brazil’s sandy beaches, there’s no sandal that signals summer quite like the flip-flop. But are these no-fuss flats as harmless as they seem? Studies show that despite their easy-breezy appeal, extended flip flop use can cause a range of physical ailments, ranging from plantar fasciitis and muscle soreness, to lower back pain. Not exactly what we signed up for, right?” 

While you would think that wearing sandals would provide more support than bare feet, studies have shown that flip flops have been shown to throw the mechanics of walking out of kilter, which in turn can lead to such maladies as plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the tissues on the bottom of the foot that strikes nearly two million Americans every year. Another research study at Lehigh University reported that when sufferers of the condition switched to lightweight shoes eighty percent of those afflicted reported relief within a year.

When it comes to high heels, not only are they bad for the posture, there have been a number of documented injuries that have resulted from women either falling or tripping due to high heels. Some of these cases have even required trips to the emergency room.  Even discounting the strains and sprains that are caused every day by high heels, studies have revealed that high heel wearers walked with shorter, more forceful strides which over time actually caused the calf muscles to shorten.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that, “Wearing high heels daily can cause hammer toes, bunions, dislocated or sprained ankles, fractures, and ligament tears - some of which may require surgery. The bigger the heel the woman wears, the greater the risk.” 

What’s Your Bag?

A ladies' Burberry handbag in the company's trademarked check pattern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another fashion accessory that causes more problems than it is worth are the briefcase, tote bag and purse.  

While large totes might be a great way to deal with everyday clutter, from a kinesthetic point of view they are not worth the effort.  Big bags encourage large loads.  Heavy loads slung from only one side of the torso are one of the quickest ways to throw the body and therefore the spine out of balance.  If you are forced to carry a significant amount of weight around town on a daily basis, it is far better to either invest in a backpack that is designed to evenly distribute the load, or better yet a tote that comes equipped with wheels and a handle that will significantly reduce the weight your frame must bear. 

If you insist on using a shoulder-slung tote, you should limit your load to no more than ten percent of your body weight not to exceed fifteen pounds.  It’s also a good practice to alternate the side of the body that supports the bag.

In his blog, Choosing the Right Handbag,” Dr. Carl Zaycosky states, “Carrying the appropriately weighted and sized bag can help in preventing shoulder, neck and back pain. It could even reduce headaches. The trapizius muscles at the top of the shoulder go up the neck to the base of the skull, potentially creating the nasty tension headaches you feel at the back of your head.” 

While any of these suggested changes to your lifestyle might be considered inconsequential, they can have profound effects on the body’s ability to remain balanced and keep you pain free.  So the next time you find yourself in the closet trying to decide which shoes to wear or which bag to take with you for the day, remember that when it comes to fashion, anything looks better than hospital greens.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dr. Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies.  For more information visit http://www.lakewoodchiropracticjax.com/