Article by Fabafterfifty
Millions are injured every year – by their clothes, it has emerged. British Osteopathic Association show around one in two adults suffer aches, pains or injuries from handbags, bras, belts and even hats.
We are all encouraged to live healthier lives over 50 – eat better, exercise more, but it seems that a closer look at what we wear and how we wear it could also be having an impact on our health.
The true extent to which modern fashions are leaving millions of us black and blue emerged from data published by the British Osteopathic Association
Kelston Chorley, head of Professional Development commented on the findings:
”Patients are often surprised when it is pointed out to them that their bag, shoes or other items of clothing may be contributing to their presenting problem.
Poor fitting bras can cause back pain
Poor fitting bras are a common source of mid back pain, or pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, often accompanied by headaches.”
Women with larger breasts need to ensure that they are well supported, with well-adjusted shoulder straps that off load and spread the weight from the back fastener.”
The research found half of us have experienced some kind of pain from a particular item of clothing- often from discomfort in their neck, back or shoulders from regularly carrying a heavy bag, with four in ten women blaming their heavy handbag.
Underwear is also a surprising issue- as many as six in ten women have been affected by wearing a bra that didn’t fit well, causing them pain, while a further one in five has also experienced friction injuries from wearing thongs.
One in eight men and women said they’ve experienced headaches from a hat they didn’t realise was too tight, and a fifth has endured pain from sunglasses causing pressure around their head.
The BOA also warned of the dangers of footwear- ballet pumps are almost as dangerous as high heels for encouraging flat-footed walking, while flip flops can result in claw toe, toe pain/rigid toes and Hallux limitus.
”In principle clothes have to be unrestrictive, otherwise these range of motion of the person will be reduced, if they have to run, or stretch then this will alter the body movements, like unwanted strapping, and will cause pulls in the wrong places.
”The most common is tight blouse and bras, which can cause ribs to pop when rotating, when parking or reaching to the back of the car from the driving seat.”
It’s little things can have impact on our health- definitely worth checking to see if the content of our wardrobes are damaging our health!
