When fashion impedes fitness

Some trends can take a toll on your health if you don’t take the requisite measures to curb them. Here’s how you can.

Six-inch stilettos, over-sized heavy handbags and skin-tight jeans may be all the rage, but have you ever thought about their implications for your physical health? Striking a balance between fashion and fitness can be daunting. Certain fashion trends can take a toll on your health if you don’t take the requisite measures to curb them. Here are a few health hazards of fashion and ways to address them in a healthy fashion, reported IANS and the Huffington Post.

Waltz off from wallets



Millions of men drive with their wallet in their back pocket and sit on them at their desk at work. This is perhaps one of the worst things you can do to your back. Back pain and sciatica are often caused by sitting on a thick and heavy wallet that throws your pelvic balance off, triggering chronic pain in your back, hips and shoulders.

Eventually, you may compress the sciatic nerve, which runs from each side of the spine down through the back of each thigh to the foot, and cause sciatica, searing leg pain and numbness. The piriformis muscle near your glutes may also become aggravated, which can irritate the nerve and trigger lower back and sciatic pain. You’re better off placing your wallet or money clip in your front pocket while sitting for a prolonged period.

Achilles’ (high) heel



The pain you feel while walking in your six-inch heels is a symptom of the potential damage stylish footwear may be causing to your body, including your back and neck. The structure of the foot is not meant to be crammed in the shoe at an elevated position. It puts the body in an unnatural position. Try giving your feet a break with flats or running shoes in between, especially if walking to work. With increased weight on your toes, your body tilts forward, which you make up for by leaning backwards and overarching your back. This creates a posture that can strain your lower back, hips and knees.

Is it in your (skinny) genes?



Skinny jeans have become the quintessential fashion staple for many women and men, especially in the fall. Trying to squeeze into them is more than an inconvenience. An overly tight fit could actually cause nerve damage. A disorder named meralgia paresthetica can occur when one of the nerves on the outer part of the thigh gets compressed, which leads to symptoms of tingling, numbness and pain. So, wear a pair that’s both comfortable and easy to slide in and out of.

Pack big bags, backpacks in



Heavy handbags, computer bags and dog carriers cause back pain. Inside a typical handbag, you may find a phone, an iPad, wallet, make-up bag, book or magazine, and maybe, an extra pair of shoes. What may seem like light things may add up to 10 pounds to your bag and carrying such weight can catalyse shoulder and neck pain.

When it comes to fashion, putting extra weight on one side of your body is one of the prime causes of neck and back pain. Any time you carry weight on one side of your body for an extended period of time, it causes your spine to curve, leading to back pain. Try to aim for symmetry. Choose a bag that you can wear diagonally across your body rather than a single-strap one that rests on one shoulder. When you can’t avoid using a single-strap bag, be conscious of changing the sides you use to carry it. Most kids wear backpacks that are too heavy for them. A child’s backpack should weigh no more than about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of his or her body weight. If a child starts complaining about neck, back or shoulder pain, parents should look at the backpack first.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2014.

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