Have you ever experienced a discomfort that manifests itself as an uncomfortable stiffness, tightness and sometimes even a sharp or a dull back pain? At times you think it may be your uncomfortable office chair, a lumpy mattress, an old pillow, or maybe that really intense work out session at the gym? It could be…… or perhaps it could be the very clothes that you are wearing that are the real reason behind your back pain! That’s right! It could be your clothes. While you should always be examined by a qualified health professional like a Chiropractor at your neighbourhood rehabilitation clinic to rule out underlying factors or pre-dispositions; surprisingly enough, some back issues are caused by wearing certain items or styles of clothing which can be easily modified to more “back friendly” versions.
Tips on How to Avoid Back Pain
You may be able to avoid back pain and improve your overall chiropractic health if you take note of a few of these tips:
- Skinny jeans may be flattering but they may also contribute to your back pain. So popular with young men and women, these ultra tight jeans hug your hips, calves, thighs and waist so tightly that your body that they may actually limit some degree of range of motion especially when walking. This can put stress and pressure on joints and may even result in discomfort. So even though skinny jeans are a fashion statement, if you are experiencing back or leg pain, try wearing them less often and choose an alternate style of jean to wear on the day that you know you will be walking significant distances.
- Narrow fitting Pencil Skirts give everyone who wears them an elongated silhouette but these fashionable skirts may be so narrow and tight that they can have an unwelcome influence on your balance, centre of gravity, and gait pattern (how you walk). A narrow fitting pencil skirt keeps your knees tightly together making it difficult to broaden your base of gait which is sometimes necessary when bending, reaching, or even just trying to walk quickly across a room or down the street. The narrowness of the skirt requires short strides which may put a strain on your back and posterior muscle groups. Without even realizing it, your pencil skirt may drive you straight to your Chiropractor’s office at your neighbourhood rehabilitation centre.
- Popular athletic attire like yoga and workout outfits is frequently worn by people who never even set foot in the gym! These outfits are usually fabricated with materials that have special qualities of stretch as well as wicking for moisture control and often are quite tight fitting and perhaps in some instances even restrictive. This can be problematic if normal range of motion is restricted by compression in unintended areas. Your Chiropractor and the staff of your neighbourhood rehabilitation centre can evaluate whether there is any restriction caused by your apparel.
- Regular and sport-styled bras are as varied as the women who wear them. There is research to support that 8 in 10 women wear the wrong size bra, which can affect their posture as well as contribute to shoulder and back pain. Women who do not receive the right support from their sports bra will find themselves fairly uncomfortable when exercising and may even find that it can contribute to injury. Thicker straps with a racer back feature will provide better support and distribute the strain across the shoulder area.
Many rehabilitation clinic patients find that regular maintenance/wellness visits contribute in a positive sense to their overall sense of well being. Your Chiropractor cares about your musculoskeletal health and can advise you on how small changes can improve your well-being.
Ranch View Physio is a multi-disciplinary full service rehabilitation centre conveniently located across Ontario, in Calgary. Our trained service providers who specialize in back pain can provide you with education, exercise and treatment aimed at preventing further damage and injury with the goal of restoring you to optimal function.
