From The Straits Times    |

Having a killer dress sense may actually be bad for you, according to a British news report.

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) warned that current fashions are changing the way women walk, Daily Mail reported on Monday (March 13).

Often, the culprit behind resulting back pain is clothing that is too tight or that otherwise requires uncomfortable adjustments in one’s posture.

A BCA survey of 1,062 women found that almost three-quarters suffer from back pain, with a third of these women unaware that their clothing could be part of the problem.

Here’s a run-down of some wardrobe favourites and the cumulative impact they can have on your health:

 

1. SKINNY JEANS

 

Photo: AFP

These restrict the hips and knees, putting added pressure on the back and joints.

2. ASYMMETRIC DRESSES

 

Photo: AFP

They can limit movement on one side of the body, forcing the knees together especially if the skirt is tight. This puts women at risk of pulling a muscle and places the discs in the back under added stress.

3. BACKLESS SHOES AND HIGH HEELS

 

Photo: EPA

Eponymous with killer fashion, high heels are also well-known to lack support for the feet, causing women to hold their body strangely at the cost of increased tension in the spine.

4. HEAVY ACCESSORIES

Photo: Bloomberg

An oversized handbag can pull excessively on the shoulder bearing its weight, causing the neck and spine to twist. Heavy jewellery such as necklaces, drag down the neck and can cause pain that may spread to the shoulders. The added pressure could also cause women to suffer tension headaches.

This story first appeared on 14th March 2017 on Thestraitstimes.com