The latest media release from the Chiropractors Association of Australia NSW notes that use of popular shape wear can be detrimental with prolonged use. An excerpt of the full media release is below:

President of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (NSW), Dr Joseph Ierano is concerned about the health ramifications of wearing shape wear. “Wearing Spanx and other such garments can encourage muscles to stop doing their job. Muscles should be encouraged to work, not remain ‘lazy,’” 

According to Ierano, prolonged use of shapewear may cause muscle weakness – and worse – for those who wear them. “Muscle should be built up through good habits of mobility and exercise rather than an external item of clothing. And when it comes to spinal and joint function, we need free movement and lack of restriction for the body to move normally. Abnormally forcing the body into a conformity may create more problems such as those associated with retracted mobility and masking undiagnosed conditions causing
underlying problems” he says.

The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (NSW) advises the following guidelines:

1. Ensure you are wearing the right size and it’s not inhibiting areas that need to move. No clothing should ever be excessively tight.
2. Try to only wear shape wear on special occasions.
3. Do not exercise or overexert yourself for long periods while wearing shapewear as it can restrict circulation.
4. Do not substitute these slimming garments for a sound weight loss/muscle toning program

Regards,

Dr Sarah MacNeil

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