By Dr. Jessica Monteleone, PT PhD
Working in various settings in the field of physical therapy for 41 years has been rewarding. The profession has offered me opportunities to help improve the function of the human body in various ways. Many people will be sent to therapy due to pain; some for lack of motion, muscle strength or difficulty in performing some functional task. Each patient has a unique medical profile, personality and characteristics that make my job fun and challenging.
I remember a particular client of mine that lived down at the beach area. She came to me for shoulder and back pain. She did not want to use pain pills because of the way they made her feel and believed that physical therapy had the answers for her.
Upon arrival, I observed that she had adequate posture. She sat up straight. She did not appear to be painful. However, when I palpated her shoulder muscles, they were as hard as a rock. I instructed her to replace her blouse and bra with a hospital gown for better evaluation of her painful areas.
Upon observation, I saw that she had deep red marks where her bra and skinny pants fit tightly around her body. She bought these clothes and gained weight or she bought the wrong size. Either way, they were constricting her body. I asked her if her pain improved when she undressed at the end of the day and, of course, her answer was “yes.”
A number of chronic pain issues can be traced to what you wear. We can do ourselves a favor when it comes to pain management or, better yet, prevention; by simply taking the time to find clothes that are non-constrictive and fit us well.
Tight Bras:
Bras that fit poorly can create chronic pain problems in several ways. Tight bras may cause deep grooves in the shoulder area and can prevent adequate deep breathing due to pressure on the lower part of the rib cage. In the case of my client, tight bra straps were causing pain in both of her shoulders and rib cage. The straps caused pain and muscle tightness in the upper Trapezius muscle that runs from the base of the skull to the shoulder blades.
My client was given moist hot packs, ultrasound and deep tissue massage the first day. She then was taught relaxation, deep breathing and stretching exercises to incorporate into her busy day. She was instructed to visit a bra specialty store that offers to measure their customers prior to selling them bras; for an informed purchase. She was discharged from therapy pain free without medications.
Many physicians and researchers now agree that wearing a tight-fitting bra can cut off lymph drainage, which can contribute to the development of breast cancer, as your body will be less able to excrete all the toxins you’re exposed to on a daily basis. Aluminum from antiperspirants, for example, is one potentially dangerous source of toxins that can accumulate if your lymph drainage is impaired.
Says Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D. Director of the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in his article, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer: “Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow. The nature of the bra, the tightness, and the length of time worn, will all influence the degree of blockage of lymphatic drainage. Thus, wearing a bra might contribute to the development of breast cancer as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast.”
It’s important to realize that nearly all underwire bras contain metal under wires, coated with plastic. And it is the metal that could ruin your long-term health. The metal wire can act as an antenna attracting electromagnetic fields, which can also increase your risk of breast cancer. Wearing metal on your body is something you generally want to avoid, and since many women wear their bras for the better part of the day, it would be sensible to find a healthier alternative to your metal underwire bras.
If you feel you need the underwire, please consider switching out the metal wire in your favorite bra for a plastic wire. You may be able to find them in your local fabric store, or you can purchase them online. (BraMakersSupply.com is a great resource.)
Medical anthropologists Sydney Singer and Soma Grismaijer, authors of Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras, conducted a study of more than 4,000 women, and found that women who do not wear bras have a much lower risk of breast cancer.
Their findings included:
• Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer
• Women who wore bras more than 12 hours per day, but not to bed, had a 1 out of 7 risk
• Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day, had a 1 out of 52 risk
• Women who wore bras rarely or never, had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer
The overall difference between women who wore their bras 24-hours a day and those who did not wear bras at all was a 125-fold difference. Based on the results of this study, the link between bras and breast cancer is about three times greater than the link between cigarette smoking and cancer.
Singer and Grismaijer also found that about 90 percent of fibrocystic patients improve when they quit wearing bras.
Tight Tummy clothing:
Tight clothing that pushes into the abdomen, everything from jeans to belts and compression undergarments, can be problematic, “particularly and especially when somebody overeats,” says Jamie Koufman, MD, a reflux specialist and author of Dropping Acid.
Pressure on the stomach, known as intragastric pressure or intra-abdominal pressure, can trigger acid reflux — pushing stomach acid back up through the lower esophageal junction, where the esophagus and the stomach meet, causing heartburn.
Acid reflux is common, and not just for older adults, according to Dr. Koufman, who says about 37 percent of the 20 to 30-year-old age group gets it. Even someone who isn’t prone to acid reflux can develop reflux if they wear a tight article of clothing often over a two-week period, she says. Snug-fitting corset-style shirts can have a similar effect, says Koufman.
Tight garments on the lower abdominal region and the upper thigh: “Tight garments on the lower abdominal region and the upper thigh can cause a condition called Meralgia Paresthetica, irritation of the nerves in the front and outer aspects of the thigh,” says Orly Avitzur, MD, a neurologist and medical adviser to Consumer Reports who practices in Carmel, N.Y.
“We’ve known about this for many years and used to see it in women who wore girdles. Now we see it in other compression garments, which have become quite a common fashion accessory. So, we’re seeing more and more of that in this generation of women who are trying to look sleek in their clothing.” Symptoms include burning, pain, tingling in the thigh area and hypersensitivity to the touch, according to Dr. Avitzur.
Tight Neckties:
A study published in the journal Stroke Research and Treatment, in which researchers used a necktie apparatus to mimic the effects of a tight tie on 40 healthy males, found modest changes in cerebrovascular reactivity, which relates to the dilation ability of arteries in the brain — a potential marker for stroke. The study’s authors theorize that the changes likely aren’t enough to influence stroke risk in healthy adults but could potentially affect risk in adults with other stroke risk factors.
Sciatica and wallets:
If you’re a man looking for easy pain treatment, simply take your wallet out of your back pocket whenever you are sitting or wear it in your front pocket. Sitting on your wallet creates a two-fold pain problem. First, the wallet can put direct pressure on the sciatic nerve, and second, it can create a pelvic un-leveling, which can prompt imbalances throughout the body. Such problems can become prevalent among men who commute for long periods of time.”
A healthy life depends on healthy decisions. Life comes down to the choices you make, and then living with the results. It’s important to remember that you almost always have options — healthier options. Some require more work than others, but in this case, it really won’t take much to make a meaningful change that can help you have a healthier body and life. If you want to look better in your clothes, then choose to eat right, exercise and buy clothes that fit. Do it because it feels good on your body or do it for the health of it. Need help? Give us a call at 850-974-0970. Visit www.wholistictherapyathome.com.
