Fitness for fashion
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By Song Sang-ho
A slightly warm breeze is ushering in spring, a season that excites many people. I think that clothing stores are often the places where we first encounter the arrival of this season, where there is new, light colored clothing displayed in the windows. Itnot that I’m very interested in fashion but as I walk the streets, I can see a number of people wearing colorful spring clothing. But unfortunately, despite making an effort, not all of them look good — in fact some look rather awkward. This may have to do with bad posture.
Many women focus on achieving an S-shaped body line (S-line), to become a fashionista. They often say that high-heeled shoes that flatter their feminine body line are the item they can never give up. However, what would you say if those stilettos were the main culprit spoiling your style?
High heels negatively affect the whole body including the foot joints. Since the body weight is tilted forward, big toes begin to splay outward, accompanied by pain, possibly causing a disease called hallux valgus or intoe. Killer-heels with heels that are at least 10-centimeters, which so many women wear these days in Korea, put an even greater burden on the knees, potentially making the legs bandy.
Famous pop star Lady Gaga, who used to wear high heels exclusively to attain a height of 155 centimeters, had to receive knee and even hip joint surgeries and cancel all of her scheduled concerts. This not only damaged her health but also her career.
High heels can bring about spinal deformity as well as joint problems. When wearing stilettos, our body tries to prevent the weight from being tilted forward too much by straining the waist, thus overstressing the spine. This posture makes the belly and the waist come forward excessively and crooks the spine abnormally to cause pain. Wearing high heels too much thus leads to scoliosis.
Big bags, a fashion item favored by many women, also makes those who carry them stoop due to their heavy weight. If a woman holds a big heavy bag with one arm, this can also cause scoliosis.
If a person has no spinal problems, their head, neck, back and waist will align straight when they stand up. A person’s shoulders should also be in the same straight line. When someone bends forward, the muscles on each side of their spine are shown to be developed equally.
If you stand in front of a mirror and you notice that your head is a little tilted to one side or the heights of your left and right shoulders differ, you might have a spinal problem. A woman who notices her skirts swiveling around her waist or that one in a pair of shoes keeps being worn out may also have spinal issues. For men, if their suits jackets are twisted or they feel that their sleeve lengths are different, a crooked spine or relevant illnesses can be expected.
If one is in serious pain or feels numb around the waist, it is better to visit a doctor and have an X-ray. If the spine is seriously crooked, it will disturb proper lung functions, causing breathing and digestion difficulties or cardiovascular disease. In cases of minor scoliosis, physical therapy can be enough but if the spine is crooked by more than 40 to 50 degrees, surgery might be required.
To become a true fashion leader, stay healthy first before buying flattering dresses or shoes. If you can’t give up high heels, do some stretching often to relieve tension in the muscles and joints. Men can also make themselves look better by building back muscles through exercises and stretching. And do not forget to always maintain a good posture. When sitting up on a chair, try to sit by putting your hips deep into the chair and straighten your waist. Place your feet on the floor and do not bend your knees over 90 degrees.
It’s good to have expensive and colorful dresses but what really determines it all is the fit body that wears them. If you really wish to be a fashion leader this season, stand before a mirror first. Straighten up the chest and waist, and place your feet together. Do not forget that the way you walk and a balanced posture can play a more important role in determining how you look.
The writer is the president of Wellton Bone & Joint Hospital.