Health warning issued over skinny jeans

Health experts warned that wearing skinny jeans poses negative effects on health and posture. British Chiropractic Association (BCA) revealed that women’s poor fashion choices restrict free movement in hips and knees, and is bad for back health.

Wearing skinny jeans can result to back problems and can reduce a person’s mobility even if one only has to walk in them. Skinny jeans and other restrictive clothing can also result to a bounce in stride, which causes pressure to the joints.

BCA chiropractor Tim Hutchful explained that opting for skinny jeans prevents a person from moving freely, thus movement in hips and knees are restricted. Heavy bags can also cause back pain. Even cross-body bags, large fluffy hoods, heavy necklaces and bell sleeves may not be good for a person’s health.

Ultimately, Hutchful stressed that any type of clothing that restricts body movement or makes people uncomfortable to stand and walk can have a negative impact on the posture, back or neck. High heels and backless shoes are not also recommended by the BCA.

“Large hoods can mean you strain your neck in order to see, and asymmetric hemlines, especially if tight-fitting, can restrict your movement and cause you to walk differently,” News.com.au has quoted him saying. As for oversized sleeves, they force a person to hold his arms in an unusual way, compromising comfort.

Hutchful said he is constantly surprised at the number of patients who are not aware that their clothing and accessories can affect their back health. He warned that some of the most commonly used items of clothing have a concealed health impact.

A poll conducted by the BCA that involved 1,062 people found 73 percent had suffered back pain. Twenty-three percent are aware that their choice of clothing can affect their health and posture, while 33 percent didn’t have any clue of its negative effects.

Hutchful clarified that neither he nor BCA is stopping anyone from wearing their favourite clothes altogether. But like most things in life, he said moderation is best. Limiting the number of time a person wears his skinny jeans, for instance, can reduce the negative impact on posture and overall health.

Meanwhile, Steve Tolan, head of practice at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, says, "Reading scare stories about skinny jeans is probably more harmful than actually wearing them," BBC reports. Tolan said people should wear whatever is comfortable and they feel good in.