Fashion Choices May Lead To Spine Pain
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
When we think about things that contribute to spine pain, we often think of actions that cause physical trauma, like falling down stairs, taking a knee to the back while playing sports or repetitive bending and twisting as part of our job. However, actions aren’t the only thing that can contribute to spine problems. According to researchers out of Great Britain, our fashion choices may also play a role in the onset of back pain.
Clothing Choices and Back Pain
We’ve already penned a blog on how high heels can contribute to spine problems, and while heels are mentioned in the research, the more interesting findings came when examining other popular accessories. According to researchers, skinny jeans and large hooded jackets and coats can both lead to spine and neck issues.
“I am always surprised at how many of my patients are unaware that their clothing and accessories can affect their back health and their posture, and equally how many decide their outfit-choice outweighs their pain,” said Tim Hutchful, a chiropractor with the British Chiropractic Association, who led the study.
Researchers stated that the majority of women will experience some type of back pain during life, but they don’t realize how their clothing choices can contribute to pain. They stated that skinny jeans can restrict free movement in vital areas like your hips and knees. When motion is restricted in these areas, your back can suffer the consequences.
It makes sense how skinny jeans can contribute to back problems, but you’re probably wondering how a large hood could cause problems. According to researchers, they can cause you to torque your neck at odd angles in order to see to the sides.
“Large hoods can mean you strain your neck in order to see,” researchers wrote.
Limit Certain Fashion Choices
To come up with the findings, researchers surveyed more than 1,000 women about their fashion choices and health ailments. 73 percent of women reported that they had suffered back pain, and 48 percent said they wore skinny jeans on a frequent basis, while a smaller group said they typically wore a coat with a large hood.
After looking at the data, researchers concluded that everyone needs to be more conscious about how their clothing and accessories may affect their spine health.
“We are certainly not saying stop wearing your favorite clothes altogether,” said Hutchful. “Like most things in life, moderation is best and there are easy ways you can reduce the impact on your posture and overall health.”
At the end of the day, you don’t need to give up that jacket or your skinny jeans forever, but if you know you’ll be moving a lot and wearing the same outfit for a long period of time, consider opting for an outfit that’s a little less taxing on your spine and body. It’s not just actions that contribute to spine pain, so we need to be cognizant of other factors that can lead to back problems.
