There are three items in your closet that could be causing your spine extra distress.
- The first is likely no surprise. And I have to admit that I’m a bit guilty here too. After all, as a vertically challenged female, I can appreciate the height gained by wearing high heels. (I also love the many colors, styles and brands I can collect to create the perfect look.) Well, our legs may look better in heels, but our spines and feet pay the price. If there is one piece of women’s fashion most responsible for causing spinal subluxations, pelvic shifts and unsightly bunions and other structural issues, it’s definitely high heels. I won’t say never wear them, because that’s unrealistic to most of us. But please, limit them to special occasions, not daily ritual. If you’re not convinced, just look at this x-ray. Talk about unnatural stress put on the body, yikes!
- Men, the single biggest offender for you are your wallets. It’s actually not the wallet that is the problem, it’s the location. Never EVER put your wallet in your back pocket and then sit on it. Not only can it directly compress the area around your sciatic nerve, but it can also result in a bad shift in your pelvis. Sitting on a wallet (especially a loaded one) raises that hip. And most of men I have met carry their wallet on the same side day after day; therein lays the problem. Your pelvis serves as the foundation to your spine. If it becomes misaligned, then the rest of your spine above will shift, subluxate and compensate for the issues at the bottom. It’s best to carry your wallet in your front pocket, or be diligent about removing it when you sit in your car, at your desk, or any other place for that matter.
- Lastly, bags and carry-alls… They are necessary accessories but please use caution. If you carry a laptop, a backpack style with weight distributed over both shoulders equally is far more advantageous to your spine than a single strap over the shoulder or across the body design. When shopping for a backpack for yourself or your child, look for one with wide and padded straps. It’s great to purchase one with a waist and/or chest strap to disperse the weight to your torso. The best advice I can give… don’t over pack! The lighter the better. Ladies, if you carry a purse buy a SMALL one. We tend to collect treasures and before we know it our purse weighs ten pounds. Make it a habit to empty out the change and “stuff” that collects in your purse on a weekly basis. And this one’s on me… feel free to use the excuse, “My chiropractor says I can’t!” when your man or your kids ask you to carry something in your purse.
In Health,
Dr. Stephanie