You want to look your best — of course you do! But looking great isn’t always the best for you. Even though our society is very style-conscious, it’s wise to make lifestyle choices that prioritize your health over how you look.

Models make it look easy as they walk down the runway, but a lot of popular styles are impractical and can cause leg, back, spine or neck pain. If you catch yourself walking on the street in high heels and carrying a heavy bag slung over one shoulder, you need to stop and think about what you’re doing to your body.

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High Heels

Love high heels? When wearing high heels, you exaggerate the normal curve of your back and force your pelvis to tip unnaturally. This contortion alters the normal configuration of your spine and pelvis and makes it difficult to maintain a proper center of gravity.

What many women don’t realize is that their legs are the foundational pieces of the muscular schedule skeletal system. When standing in a healthy position with proper posture, your hamstrings are taught and your pelvis is stabilized. When you bring your heel up, you shorten the hamstring muscles, again forcing your spine and pelvis out of alignment.

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Laptop Bags and Purses

Both men and women tend to put too many items into a bag or laptop case. When you carry a bag containing more than 10% of your body weight, you jeopardize your ability to maintain proper balance. This is especially true if you hike the bag over one shoulder, interfering with the natural movement of your upper and lower body. It’s natural to guard against the weight and try to overcompensate for the imbalance, but that only makes things worse. Not only will your spine curve toward your shoulder, but you also create a vulnerability to and a propensity towards injury.

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Tips to Avoid Injury

Take the following steps to both look and feel your best:

• Invest in comfortable shoes. If you wear heels, bring along a second pair of shoes so you can change into more comfortable shoes whenever possible.
• Wear supportive shoes when walking. Uncomfortable shoes negatively impact the body’s center of gravity. You want to aim for easy, smooth, symmetrical walking.
• Ideally, your laptop bag or purse should have a wide adjustable strap. If possible, use a backpack-style bag or place the strap over your head, evenly distributing the bulk of the weight across your body.
• When carrying a heavy bag, switch sides frequently. This reduces stress on one side of your body.
• From time to time, go through your bag and remove unnecessary items to lighten your load.
• Carry wallets, cell phones and other necessary items in your laptop bag or purse. Avoid reaching around to your back pocket, which can result in pulled neck or back muscles.

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Looking for a Huntersville Chiropractor for Back or Neck Pain?

Fashion injuries often present in the form of back, shoulder or neck pain. Chiropractic adjustments stimulate your body’s natural healing processes. By maintaining healthy alignment, you can also reduce your vulnerability to injury.

Stop by our office for a complimentary visit to find out what you can do to protect yourself from unnecessary pain.