Get documents about "BALLET THE NEW FITNESS FAD BUT HOW SAFE IS IT
Shared by: jennyyingdi
-
Stats
- views:
- 0
- posted:
- 7/13/2012
- language:
- pages:
- 1
Document Sample
Good Health
Page 48 Daily Mail, Tuesday, January 4, 2011
BALLET’S THE NEW
FITNESS FAD. BUT By LUCY
ELKINS
HOW SAFE IS IT?
C
OSTING as little as £1, it is
easy to see the appeal of
over-the-counter reading
glasses. There’s no need for
AFTER three caesareans, my abdominal
muscles were pathetic. This put a terrible an eye test — you can walk
strain on my back and I ended up with a in off the street and buy a pair.
‘Ready readers’, as they are known, are
worn lower disc — its pulpy contents had aimed at the over-40s — those who find
become dehydrated and it had lost some they have to start holding the page away
of its shock-absorbing ability. from them in order to read the words.
My physiotherapist compared it to a flat T h i s i s du e t o a n a g e -re l a t e d
tyre, calling it a symptom of age (I’m 38). condition called presbyopia and is
A worn lower disc can’t be repaired, so caused by the lens in the eye losing its
he advised me to build up the surrounding elasticity so that it becomes harder for
muscles with Pilates and aqua-aerobics. the eye to switch from focusing on
things at a distance to small close-up
After four months my abdominals were images such as print on a page.
stronger, but, frankly, I wanted a little It affects everyone — those who were
more glamour in my rehabilitation.
Buying cheap
originally short or long-sighted, even
I’d heard about the trend for ballet- those with normal vision — and
based fitness classes and the Ballet Stretch becomes worse with age.
& Shape session at my local health club Reading glasses help bring these close
sounded perfect. As a child, I was dreadful images into focus. They are intended
at ballet and yet I loved its beauty and — as the name suggests — for close-up
grace. This, it seemed, was my chance. reading, not driving or walking around.
But how good are over-the-counter
My heart fluttered as I bought my pink versions? We asked specialists at Optical
ballet shoes. I knew my back was easily
reading glasses?
Express, which does not stock ‘ready
aggravated, but presumed a ballet-based readers’, to review High Street specs.
class would be gentle and effortless. Note: the lens strength refers to the
However, aspiring Sugar Plums should magnification — the higher the number,
be cautious — and know their limits. the greater the magnification provided.
The instructor asked if I’d done ballet
before. ‘No,’ I replied. She SIGHTSTATION
nodded and turned on
the music. GLASSES
£16, sightstation.com, lens
Then go in with
The choreography was
fast and confusing. I strength: +3.5
didn’t understand the THE frame is wide,
terminology as she meaning it’s likely
shouted it out, but tried these specs will slip
to copy her. down your nose
We adjourned to the barre unless you have a very large head.
This will effectively increase the lens
your eyes open
and embarked on a series of power, as the lens will be closer to
pliés (imagine a squat what you are reading than it should
with the backs of your be. As a result you could end up with
heels at 180 degrees to headaches and strain on the eyes.
each other). The posi- The real issue though is the optical
tion felt unnatural. centres — the area in each lens you are
I returned the following meant to look through and which
week, vowing not to bend so should be level with your pupils. These
are 60mm when they should be 62mm
low. But even in the warm-up, from each side of the lens.
I forgot that cardinal rule for And on one lens, the centre is 1mm
anyone with lower back prob- higher than the other, which could
lems: contrac t your also cause eyestrain or an eye-
abdominals to support your pulling sensation.
The frame, however, is The lenses are also pitted and also make the sides splay out-
lower back.
The next day, my lower back attractive and modern, and the metal frame is slightly out of wards, which could cause a PRIMARK
thundered with an urgent made with spring joints, which
are flexible to open and close,
shape, which means they will
feel uncomfortable. The frame is
loosening of the joints.
THE left lens is slightly
READING GLASSES
pain. Those swinging kicks at the barre so the arms are less likely to made of nickel, which could £2 for two pairs, lens
had caused a wrenching compression of scratched, but the optical
snap off than with other pairs. cause skin allergies. centres are fine at 62mm. strength: +3.5
my wounded disc. 5/10 1/10
The cause and nature of my complaint is 8/10 THE opti-
cal centres
familiar to Nick Allen, clinical director of
the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Jerwood
BOOTS READING TIGER READING OSCAR OPTIX are at 60m,
Centre for Prevention and Treatment of GLASSES GLASSES £9.99 from TK Maxx, lens
which is
OK, though not ideal. But
Dance Injuries. If your muscles aren’t £18.99, lens strength: +3.5 £4 from Tiger stores strength: +2 when measured from the top
strong enough to prevent your spine nationwide, lens strength: +2.5 EVEN though to the bottom of the lens, they
THIS gents’ are in different positions —
arching or flexing, it’s bad news. style frame is THESE pink they are
‘When you swing your legs back, the big brand new, 2mm apart. This is enough to
made from a leopardprint cause symptoms such as eye-
muscle at the front of your hip that nickel alloy, specs are the left side
screw is loose. The bridge fit- strain and headaches.
attaches onto the spine gets pulled,’ says which may cause an allergic fun, though The head width of the frame
Mr Allen. ‘If it’s weak, it tries to protect the reaction when in contact with they do look and feel very cheap. ting across the nose is very nar-
row and the frame is narrow, is also too small, so might feel
back by becoming rigid to stop movement the skin — like the allergies The fitting across the bridge of uncomfortable across the
caused by cheap, nickel-plated the nose is small, which could too, so these may feel tight
— and compresses your spine.’ around the temples and ears. temples and on the ears.
The thing is, ballet can be helpful, if jewellery. feel uncomfortable if you have a On the plus side, the frame
They are also shop-damaged broad nose. This tight fit may also force the
performed correctly under close arms outwards, making them has sturdy sprung joints, so are
(the glass in the lens is slightly The optical centres are less likely to snap easily.
supervision. A Swedish study found that pitted, like orange peel) and 60mm from the side of the more likely to break.
when competitive skiers undertook dance both lenses are slightly scratched lens. Though this would The optical centres are 63mm, 5/10
training, it improved flexibility in their backs — a common problem when you satisfy standard regulations, which is slightly off what they
and reduced pain. But our class was not are buying glasses off the shelf. in sensitive people it may should be. Vertically, the centres
differ by 2mm, which could
composed of Olympic athletes.
‘You have members of the public with
However, the optical centres
are in the right place.
cause eyestrain, headaches or
a feeling that the eyes are pull- cause visual discomfort. AJ MORGAN
different bodies and the instructor has to 6 /10 ing to the ears, even when you
are looking at something in
4/10 READING GLASSES
put across a generic programme,’ says TK Maxx £7.99, lens
Mr Allen. ESSENTIAL STYLE front of your nose.
That said, with a few sensible precautions, £1 from Poundland, lens
The lenses are also finely
scratched — not good, as they
M&S EASYREAD strength: +3
THESE
ballet fitness can be beneficial for all. strength: +3.5 are new out of the packet. £7.50, lens strength: +3 have trendy
Kirsty Pellant, who teaches Ballet Fitness A CLASSIC 4/10 THESE black and
at DW Sports Fitness in Canterbury, has trendy chocolate
example of
simple rules. ‘I do a screening of the class
for ailments and get everyone to sing
what NOT to RAMPAGE tortoise-
shell style
frames, but
they are heat-welded together
b u y. The
throughout the class, which pulls your optical centres should be READING frames are designed for men, rather than fitted with a screw.
That means they are inflexible, so
abdominals into place,’ she says. around 62mm from each side of £7.99 from TK Maxx, lens but this is a very small fitting
frame so it will grip at the ears if you whip off your specs with
Three weeks later, my back, though the lens — these are 71mm on strength: +2.5 one hand they may break.
one side, so are suitable only for — like wearing a shirt that is too
bruised and sore, is benefiting from Pilates. THESE have small and pulls across the This frame has a narrow head
The pink ballet slippers languish at the someone with really, really width, which might make them
wide-set eyes. trendy tiger chest.
back of my wardrobe. print frames, They have a small bridge, too, pinch slightly on the temples
The higher the magnification, and ears. It also means that the
But all is not lost. The Birmingham Royal the more of an issue incorrect manufac- which may make it even more
Ballet performs Cinderella this season; I tured from nylon. This frame uncomfortable and tight around arms of the glasses are more
optical centres are as the brain likely to splay outwards.
plan to enjoy the art form from the safe feels it has to take action to is very narrow across the head the temples.
and so may feel uncomforta- However, at 62mm, the optical The optical centres are at
comfort of a padded armchair. remedy the vision, resulting in 62mm, which is fine.
eye strain, headaches, dizzi- bly tight across the temples centres are fine.
ANNA MAXTED and ears. This tight fit could 8/10
ness, double vision or nausea. 6/10
