Interestingly, fashion and health have been closely aligned for quite some time. There are many fashion trends that may have a direct impact on your health. As an interventional pain physician, I see many patients who struggle to stay “en-vogue” to the detriment of their health. For instance, high heels are a common culprit for lower back pain though they can really make an outfit pop. The heels serve to create a forward posture that places more pressure on the spine and increases your risk for sciatica. It can also cause muscle spasms in the calves and feet. Skinny jeans on not so skinny people can create uncomfortable waistbands that result in painful compression of the stomach resulting in acid reflux. Additionally, tight abrasive garments can retain moisture from sweat and result in yeast infections and skin abrasions.
However, there are things you can do to be trendy and healthy.
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Do: Reduce the load in your purses and bags. That “Neverfull” bag was not meant to be filled with 30lbs of items. Carrying around heavy purses leads to neck, shoulder and back pains.
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Don’t: Wear the same pair of socks for more than one day. Invest in a variety of colorful socks that can spice up your outfit and change them daily. Many of my patients admit that it is sometimes easier to leave their worn socks in their shoes after a long day at work. They then recycle those socks the following day. The heat in Atlanta causes our feet to sweat and the socks become a breeding ground for bacteria.
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Do: Exercise to make those outfits fit you better. Focus on core strength and stabilization- your abdominal muscles help to counterbalance the forces on your spine. A weak core with abdominal obesity is a main contributor to chronic back pain.
Zwade J. Marshall, MD, MBA, is the Chief Medical Officer at Regenerative Spine & Pain Specialists in Fayetteville. Go to www.regenerativespines.com or call 404.618.0995.
Pearl: Every 1lb of belly fat equals 3lbs of weight on your back because of the mechanics of your spine. So if you are 20lbs overweight in your abdomen, your back experiences 60lbs of increased load. That is equivalent to walking around with a backpack full of cement mix!
