Red Carpet Chiropractic: The Perils of Heels

By Sara Butler

Call me crazy, but I love the Oscars. There’s something about the glitz and the glamour of the Academy Awards that holds my attention. Plus, I love to see what people wear on the red carpet. Every single year I find myself thinking the exact same thing, “How on earth do they walk in those shoes???” Jennifer Lawrence proved you can’t.

Myself and Emma Thompson fail to see how famous actresses aren’t bedridden for days after hoofing it around all night in some of those shoes -- because they definitely aren’t chiropractor-approved! Your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic may be the last person you listen to when it comes to fashion advice, but you really should try to a take a few pointers from the chiropractic fashion book because they may save you sore muscles, dysfunctional joints, and a couple of hammer toes down the road. And let’s face it, who wants hammer toes in a pair of Christian Louboutins.

Clothes Aren’t Just Fashionable

You don’t have to wear your 98-year-old grandmother’s sensible shoes to take care of your spine, but you should think about your fashion choices beyond simple appearances. Shoes, skirts, shirts, pants, and accessories abound, so you’re never not going to find choices that tick the boxes of both fashion and good health.

The next time you head out for a night on the town, decide to make both health and fashion statements by following just a few simple rules:

• High heels – High heels may elevate you for a while, but they’re sure to take you swiftly down the road to back pain. Heels are designed to look nice, not function well with your body. They thrust your entire center of gravity forward, forcing your body to compensate just so you can swagger down the red carpet like Felicity Jones or Nicole Kidman. There’s a reason you never see The Rock in heels -- Dwayne Johnson is a sensible guy who cares about his back. And heels probably don’t come in size 14. Avoid high heels and instead opt for low heels or flats; you know, Mrs. Doubtfire instead of Carrie Bradshaw.
• The fit – How your clothes fit have a big impact on your health too. Restrictive, tight clothing makes it difficult for your body to bend and move the way it’s supposed to. When you restrict movement, you’re placing stress and strain on your joints. So, make sure to choose clothes that are comfortable and allow for a normal movement. You saw what happened to the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.
• The weight – One thing actresses on the red carpet get right is their handbags. They carry dainty purses that are as light as a feather. This is definitely something you should emulate. Carrying around a heavy bag each and every day is a sure-fire way to develop shoulder, neck, and back pain unless you’re The (aforementioned) Rock. Make sure to switch the side of the body you carry your bag on frequently and clean out that purse every once in a while; you’re not Mary Poppins.

Fashion may seem trivial, but it has a direct impact on your health and wellness. You may not be dressing to attend glamorous awards ceremonies, but you should be conscious of what you wear and how you carry yourself each and every day. You can look good and stay healthy -- not a grandma shoe in sight -- if you just listen to your chiropractor!

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