Women Beware: Shapewear is SQUEEZING your Organs!
The “hour-glass” female figure in popular media has created a growing popularity in women’s smoothing shape wear as a fashion accessory. But is it worth it to have everything pulled and tucked in as tight as possible to have a shape “more beautiful” than it already is? Physicians and bodyworkers including massage therapists and chiropractors, say no.An article in the Huffington Post recently brought attention to the fact that shapewear that you wear under your regular clothing (such as Spanx) is literally squeezing your organs because they are so tight. The way in which the internal organ systems in your torso are organized is complex and purposeful. There is dynamic that allows for smooth movement of tissues upon each other, flow of fluids supplying and draining throughout the body, and the passage of foods as digestion occurs. All of these things are restricted when you wear something so tight that it visible constricts the hips and abdomen.
The article identifies the following things that have become a concern for those who wear these figure flattering pieces of clothing (have a look at the article linked to above for more details):
- The organs are compressed
- Irritation of bowel disorders
- Tingling, numbness and pain in the legs
- Weakening of posture muscles
- Increased susceptibility to infection
As the article also points out, moderation is key. Using shapewear for an evening out or a special occasion is fine, but those ladies wearing shapewear day-to-day should be cautious. Most of the concerns associated with wearing these garments are not permanent, but that doesn’t mean being uncomfortable and putting the body under unnecessary stress is good thing either.
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Broadway Wellness is a community focused, multi-disciplinary wellness clinic. Located in the heart of Vancouver, our clinic offers services by highly skilled practitioners in the fields of Registered Massage Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, and Chiropractic Care through Network Spinal Analysis (NSA).
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