Continually wearing the wrong items, such as a heavy backpack, can cause injury to your health
You probably wouldn’t connect getting ill with what you wear, but perhaps you should. When it comes to being healthy, you probably don’t give your clothes a second thought. The reality is that what you wear could play a crucial role in your health, even making you ill if you continually wear the wrong items, such as a heavy backpack. Below are some of our recommendations for back saving wear.
Orthotics
Your feet are the base that your body stands on. If your feet are weak or have structural problems, this can lead to problems in your knees, hips and low back, and can even cause headaches. Many people wear orthotics because they are good for their feet, but orthotics are even more important for those who experience pain after extended walking or standing. The most popular brand of orthotics is Foot Levelers. Foot Levelers, Inc. has been in business for over 50 years. When ordering orthotics, a cast or mold will be made of each of your soles. Some doctors have started to use high tech digital scanners. At least 16 different measurements of your feet are taken to ensure that your feet, and therefore your foundation, are more firmly supported. Please note that the orthotics and insoles that you buy at your drug store are not the same as the high-quality orthotics that you can have custom made, even though they look similar. Insoles may effectively reduce pressure by increasing the padding under your feet, but orthotics are customized and provide a foot-bed that is molded specifically for each of your feet based on their unique shape and size. Customized orthotics are also a worthy investment. Ask us whether we think you need orthotics or not.
Protect your feet with shoes that fit well, and consider that your feet will grow before you buy a new pair.
Buy Good Shoes
Most people spend close to two-thirds of their life in shoes, so wearing shoes that fit well is very important. Our feet endure tremendous pressures daily. For example, an average day of walking brings a force equal to several hundred tons on your feet. Feet are subject to more injury than any other part of the body, underscoring the need to protect them with proper shoes. Here is a quick guide to selecting the right shoes for your feet.
- Always have your feet measured while standing
- Always try on both shoes, and walk around the store in them
- Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size
- Don’t buy shoes that need a ‘break-in’ period; shoes should be comfortable immediately
- Don’t rely on the size of your last pair of shoes as your feet may grow
- Shop for shoes later in the day, as feet tend to swell during the day
- Select a shoe with a leather upper, stiff heel counter, good cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot
- Try on shoes while you’re wearing the same type of socks or stockings you expect to wear with the shoes
- If you wear prescription orthotics, you should take them along to shoe fittings
Back Saver Wallet
Most men carry a wallet in their back pockets and in many cases it can be over a half an inch thick. Sitting on a half inch wedge for hours at a time over a period of years is one of the most overlooked causes of spinal misalignments and spinal pain including back pain, neck pain, and even headaches. Our recommendation is to clean out your wallet and carry only what is really necessary. An innovative new product that has a unique patented design and can reduce the size of your wallet by over 50% is called the TPK Back Saver Wallet, we like to think of it as The Wellness Wallet. Its unique thin design allows for it to be carried in your front pocket instead of your back pocket restoring the natural tripod effect of your spine when you are seated. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes.
Healthy Backpack
Another important wellness essential product is an ergonomically designed backpack. It is amazing how we can put thousands of pages of data onto a microchip smaller than the eye can see, yet kids are carrying backpacks that are heavier than ever filled with textbooks. Many schools are taking away kid’s lockers making the problem even worse. Some kids carry backpacks with 40% of their body weight or more. You can see them walking to school leaning forward to offset the weight on their backs. Until schools figure out a way to make the loads lighter, we recommend that you get a backpack that is designed to help you stand up straighter. Our favorite is the AirPack Backpack designed by Core Products because of its patented shoulder straps and inflatable lumbar cushion which when properly adjusted redistributes the weight from the shoulders and upper back into the hips promoting a healthier upright standing posture.
If you would like more advice on what products that could benefit you, visit an experienced chiropractor today!
