Fashion can be painful and over time can lead to problems with your shoulder, low back pain and feet. If you choose “trendy torture” or “fashion over function,” you may receive significant injuries from heavy purses and high heels.
When a patient presents with neck, shoulder and back pain, Tulsa Spine and Rehab looks to see what kind of purse they are carrying. Typically, the bag is too big but I also see women with a mid size bag that is loaded down. The injuries these patients suffer with are normally not serious and will not cause a skeletal deformity. It’s more of a nagging injury that’s going to hurt a lot.
Back Pain Tips for Purse Injuries
Alternate between sides or shoulders. Also, switch your handbags so you’re not carrying a purse every day. Most women have an array of purses, so switch them up. Or if you have a big tote, like a laptop bag, transfer some of those materials into that bag that you can keep at the office. If you do have to use a large purse, choose one with wider straps. This will help distribute some of the weight over the broader area of the shoulders. And it will hopefully reduce some of the load and reduce some of the pressure.
Tips for Foot Injuries
High heels may look nice and cause a fashion craze but they can be dangerous to your feet. I have seen some really serious foot type injuries from bunions to stress fractures to breaks, even plantar fasciitis and Achilles injuries. Shoes can also cause women low back pain. When screening women with low back pain, I typically take a look at their footwear. If high heel shoes are worn throughout the day, it can create a lot of problems. A few tips related to those, don’t wear them if you’re going to be standing on your feet more that two to three hours at a time. They are not set up for that. So try to limit their use.
If you’re at the dinner table or at your office, kick them off and give your feet a little time to rest. Also, if you’re at a special event and you need high heels, bring another pair of shoes, so when you have some down time you’re able to change shoes. When you’re picking out shoes, be somewhat conscious of what it might do your foot or your lower back. Choose a heel that is no more than two to three inches. Fashion may not dictate that height but your health does.
Look for a shoe comprised of supple leather. It will be a little bit easier on your feet. Stay away from hard leather shoes.
These injuries can accumulative. Typically with foot injuries you’re going to know if that shoe is uncomfortable. We’ve all put new shoes on that first day and your foot bothers you a little bit but throughout the week or the couple of weeks when you break that shoe in it bets better.
But a lot of times high heels are going to be uncomfortable and you’re going to have problems that are quick and onset. Low back pain is more cumulative or chronic. It also puts a lot of stress on the knees, the hips and then the low back. Make some adjustments in your footwear.
Be smart about picking your shoes out, be smart about picking your purse out. You to look good just be conscious and wary of your body when picking these things out. And use them in moderation and when you can, take a break.
Don’t be a slave and end up a patient at Tulsa Spine and Rehab due to your fashion choices. If your aches and pains won’t just go away on there own. Get them checked by Dr. Riley and his team at Tulsa Spine and Rehab. Contact us at (918) 743-3737 or send us an email.
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