Look Good Without Hurting Your Body

Being in style is important to many people, but often they sacrifice their chiropractic well-being in order to look good. It's understandable to want to stay ahead of the latest trends, but it's important to be comfortable and take care of your body as well.

Once again this season's runways are showing short skirts, tight pants, high heels and an overflow of accessories. But wearing these items can create major problems for your body like pain in the back, legs, neck and spine. Most women have no idea of the effects of these fashion choices on their bodies. Models on the runway wear these looks for two minutes, while in everyday life women are wearing 5-inch heels and giant handbags all day long.

You may think that a pair of high heels completes your outfit, but in reality they are contributing to back pain and intense discomfort in the feet. Wearing high heels distorts the body's inherent balance, and the musculoskeletal system has to adapt to a new dynamic equilibrium. What happens when one wears high heels for any extended amount of time is that the pelvis angles forward, forcing the regular curvature of the spine to adjust to be able to maintain a center of gravity. Standing flat-footed keeps the body in a perfect natural balance. Alternately, high heels force the hamstrings to tighten and the body's equilibrium must be maintained by the pelvis.

It's not just women; men fall into fashion traps as well. Women, however, are usually more prone to wearing tighter clothing. Form-fitting pants and skirts may look flattering but feel way too tight. Walking, bending and sitting in tight clothes is much more difficult and uncomfortable. Significantly tight clothing does not feel good to the person wearing it, and can result in poor posture and the misalignment of the spine, causing the body to be off balance.

Another ridiculous trend of late is the giant handbag, purse or backpack. People are carrying huge bags filled to the breaking point which often weigh over ten percent of their body weight. An unnatural counterbalance in the shoulders results when one carries one of these huge bags primarily over one shoulder. This is because the spine tends to curve toward that shoulder. Men are known to store their wallets in the back pocket of the pants or jeans they are wearing. The has the effect of carrying extra, unnecessary weight and can harm the spine as it is not good to sit on an object for any length of time.

Of course it's important to all of us to be stylish, but you don't have to sacrifice your well-being to do so. The following are some tips that will help you look good and feel good, too!

• When choosing shoes for everyday, make sure they feel totally comfortable while standing and walking, and that they feel supportive. This will ensure that your weight is distributed evenly. When you have to wear high heels, try to bring along an extra pair of flat shoes to change into.
  
• Make sure your clothing isn't too tight. It's okay to wear clothes that are form-fitting, but when taking part in everyday activities becomes uncomfortable, you know you are wearing clothes that are bad for you.
  
• Clean out your handbag regularly to get rid of all the excess items that you don't need, and be sure to place often-used accessories like a phone or wallet in easy-to-find places. Regularly alternate which shoulder you use to carry your bag and make sure it has adjustable straps.
  
  

Take note: clothing designers don't create clothes with comfort in mind. To them, it's all about what looks good. That's why it's up to you to make sure you're just as comfy as you are stylish.