British chiropractors warn of certain clothes and fashion accessories whose heavy use could damage the spine.
Expression fashion victim has just taken on a whole new meaning… 8 out of 10 French people have had back pain at least once in their life. In the United Kingdom, where estimates are similar, an association of chiropractors is questioning fashion. And it’s not just an expression: jeans skinny, high heels and other hooded coats promote back pain, depending on the British Chiropractic Association.
Too tight pants
Almost three-quarters of British women have had complaints about their backs, according to the BCA poll. And yet, a third of them ignore that the wardrobe can play a role in this suffering.
“Overloaded and heavy handbags are the main culprit,” points out Tim Hutchful, member of the association. Carrying them on one shoulder causes pain in the shoulders, neck and arms. “But other accessories are unexpected, the jeans skinny for example. They restrict the movements of the hips and knees and affect the way we stand, ”continues the chiropractor.
By blocking the joints, the pants would prevent the body from absorbing shock, which causes damage to the back. This is not the first time that these very fashionable jeans have been called into question. Already in 2015, the cup skinny has been the subject of a scientific publication. A 35-year-old Australian woman helped a friend move. It took him badly: dressed in such a model, the woman ended up in the emergency room with peripheral nerves.
A risk of injury
In reality, the association of chiropractors points to 5 major culprits. In addition to handbags and tight jeans, hooded fur (or imitation) coats, high heels, but also mules are accused of promoting back problems. The first reach the cervical, the second the dorsals.
In fact, 10% of women surveyed by the BCA wear shoes without heel support. These directly affect posture while walking. High heels, for their part, are regularly singled out. An American study claims that wearing them more than three times a week can cause imbalances in four ankle muscles and cause certain injuries. Imbalances that have repercussions, unsurprisingly, on the back.
The cart before the horse
However, chiropractors do not ask the impossible of fashionistas. “We certainly don’t recommend stopping wearing certain clothes, but like everything else, moderation prevails,” says Tim Hutchful. For example, investing in a backpack for busy days and varying the fit every now and then are two simple tips.
If most of these tips are common sense, many specialists are surprised by the presence of skinny jeans and hooded coats in this classification. “Reading scary opinions about skinny jeans is probably more harmful than wearing them”, quips Steven Tolan, member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, interviewed by the BBC. And to invite consumers to wear what they find most comfortable.
For Dr Mary O’Keeffe, also interviewed by the BBC, there is still insufficient evidence to reach a firm conclusion on the subject. “It may seem counterintuitive, because women with back pain report pain associated with certain parts,” recognizes the specialist in back pain at the University of Limerick. But to assume the pain is caused by it is like putting the cart before the horse. “
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