The American Chiropractic Association routinely puts out tips for living a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that they even put out fashion tips?!? Below are five tips from the ACA that will help keep your spine healthy.
When choosing your footwear, do the “shake test.” Shake your foot and if your shoe doesn’t fall off then the shoe fits properly. If your shoe does fall off, it means you’re scrunching your toes while you walk, to keep the shoe secure. Holding your body in this unnatural position stresses the spine. Find a pair that can withstand the shake.
It might be time to swap out the skinnies! Extremely tight clothing can compress the nerve in the upper thigh, causing numbness and a condition called meralgia parasthetica. While not directly related to the spine, it’s an issue doctors of chiropractic see often. Try a bootleg or boyfriend cut instead.
Keep extra makeup and workout clothes at work, so you’re not constantly toting everything from home. If you carry your bag on your shoulder, look for a purse with a thick strap, so the weight is better distributed. And remember to switch arms occasionally.
It’s important to consider where a handbag hits when you walk. You don’t want your purse so low that it knocks against your legs, but you don’t want it so high that you can’t swing your arms. Both create problems with your gait. Consider a backpack or a smaller crossbody bag, which are easier on the back.
Your phone is an accessory that we don’t think of as an accessory. But looking down at your phone for hours and hours is a really big issue. That prolonged position puts stress on your cervical spine and causes pain in the neck—literally! The ACA recommends that you rest your elbow on your abdomen and hold your phone straight out in front of your eyes.
If you can make any of these tips part of your routine, you will soon be on your way to better health. If you have questions, consider visiting our doctors of chiropractic (DC’s). DC’s are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages.
For more information, call us to schedule an appointment at (703) 454-5180!
Keeping your health in motion,
Dr. Steven Trauben & Dr. Jeff Borenstein