Fashion

Your Statement Necklace Is Plotting Against You

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, ladies, but all those clunky leather totes and clanging statement necklaces might be taking a toll on our bodies. According to the Daily Mail UK, London-based surgeon Simon Moyes has reported a surge in injuries among his female clients caused by their shoes and accessories. The hazardous pieces in question? Heavy statement necklaces, unsupportive flip-flops, killer heels, and weighty handbags.

Moyes told The Daily Mail, "My colleagues and I, within the physiotherapy and personal fitness training arenas, have seen on average about a 20 percent increase in neck and shoulder problems." They've also reported problems with their feet, namely plantar fasciitis and bunion development. Over the last few years, Moyes says his patients have attributed these injuries to their shoes and accessories.

Moyes broke down each fashionable culprit and what kind of harm they were causing our bodies. Heavy necklaces, like those gorgeous foot-long pieces from Dylanlex and Dannijo, can cause poor posture, neck and spine pain and shoulder impingement. "All these things produce tightness and shortening of the upper chest muscles, which produce impingement in the shoulders."

When it comes to those enormous handbags we love to throw literally everything in, chronic shoulder pain and rotator cuff (shoulder) impingement are two problems we should be weary of. To avoid this, Moyes suggests alternating shoulders when carrying your purse and ditching heavy objects.

As far as shoes go, you are probably well aware of the issues that come with wearing flip-flops and high heels. If you haven't made the switch to Birkenstocks (or any of these orthotic sandals), it might be a good time to reconsider the foot-friendly trend. Overuse of flip-flops can lead to plantar fasciitis, a painful condition that affects the thick sheet of tissue that rans from the heel to the ball of the foot.

High heels on the other hand can lead to Achilles tendonitis, which is the tendon that runs from the base of the calf to the heel bone. In addition, frequent high-heel users can suffer from bunion and callous development. It ain't cute, guys.

The lesson to be learned: as pretty as those necklaces, handbags and shoes may be, it's important to remember to be kind to your body. After all, YOGO — you only get one.