‘Barbie Feet Challenge’ 2023 : Doctors Warn Against Taking the Viral challenge
Health professionals are worried about the trending “Barbie Feet Challenge” on TikTok, inspired by the popular Barbie movie. Repeatedly performing the stance might result in problems with the muscles, spine, ankles, and growth plates—the word of caution.
Following the widespread release of the Barbie movie, the Barbie Feet Challenge is taking off on TikTok, but medical professionals are now raising questions about the viral trend’s possible risks.
The movie has become a huge smash, taking over the box office upon its much-awaited release in 2023. Its fame has also spread to numerous social media platforms, where material centered around Barbie has taken over.
The Barbie Feet challenge is one specific craze that has health professionals concerned. This task aims to replicate a scenario from the Barbie movie where Margot Robbie’s character exits a pair of high heels while preserving the distinctive arched foot position associated with Barbie dolls.
The scenario did not need elaborate special effects, according to Robbie. She hung onto a bar for stability while striking the position, and the double-sided tape was utilised to secure her shoes to the ground. Despite how easy it was, fans were anxious to try the situation for themselves, which led to a flood of videos on TikTok under the hashtag #BarbieFeetChallenge, garnering over 40 million views.
Health experts, however, are currently advising against following the fad. Board-certified podiatrist Dr Jodi R. Schoenhaus stressed that while performing the stance once or twice would not be detrimental, doing so frequently over an extended length of time could result in several dangers. Like the problems often associated with wearing high heels, the stance places the ankle in an unstable position, increasing the risk of ligament sprains and injuries.
Due to the tension in the lower back, the high-arched position of the Barbie foot may cause issues with the muscles and spine. Younger girls who are still growing should also be cautious since this position may harm their development plates.
Contrary to common misconception, merely wearing high heels differs from this foot stance. Even though the feet might look identical in both pictures, the Barbie Foot posture puts more pressure on the body since it completely lacks support for the heel and back of the foot when the wearer is in heels.
Doctors made the point that walking on one’s toes is not feasible without the assistance of heels. In actuality, Barbie does have flat feet in the film, an ailment that affects about 30% of people. The expert suggests letting movie stars handle this trend as they have props and several tries to get the ideal result.
In a world where social media trends take off overnight, health experts around the globe are now issuing warnings about the latest viral sensation, the ‘Barbie Feet Challenge’ 2023. The movement, named for its participants’ attempt to imitate the permanently arched feet of a Barbie doll, has been sweeping across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. However, medical professionals have voiced concerns over the potential health hazards the trend might pose.
The ‘Barbie Feet Challenge’ began innocuously as a pose often adopted by celebrities and influencers to elongate their legs in photos. It involves standing on the balls of your feet, as if wearing invisible high heels, or sitting with your feet pointed, emulating the famous doll’s permanently arched feet.
The challenge took off on a larger scale when social media users, not content with merely posing, started recording themselves doing various activities – walking, running, climbing stairs, even performing dance routines – all while maintaining this ‘Barbie Feet’ stance.
Medical professionals have expressed several concerns about this viral trend, believing it puts undue stress on the feet, ankles, and calves.
Physical strain: Performing daily activities while on the balls of your feet can place extraordinary pressure on your muscles and ligaments. Over time, this could lead to painful injuries, such as strains, sprains, or even stress fractures.
Risk of falls: The Barbie Feet Challenge significantly impacts balance, making individuals more susceptible to falls and injuries. High-risk groups, like older people or those with balance-related issues, are particularly vulnerable.
Promotion of unrealistic body standards: Beyond the physical risks, psychologists and body positivity advocates express concern over the trend’s mental health implications. The Barbie Feet Challenge continues promoting unrealistic and potentially harmful beauty standards. It subtly perpetuates the idea that one must alter their body shape or stance to achieve a socially ‘accepted’ or ‘desirable’ appearance.
In response to the trend, the medical community has proactively educated the public about the risks associated with the challenge.
Orthopaedic surgeons are leading the way in warning about the risk of acute injuries, such as ankle sprains, and chronic problems like plantar fasciitis, a painful condition affecting the heel and underside of the foot. Physiotherapists caution that repeated strain on muscles can lead to long-term issues such as Achilles tendonitis.
Simultaneously, psychologists and body positivity advocates encourage individuals, especially impressionable young people, to reject such unrealistic body standards. They remind us that our worth is not determined by our ability to imitate a plastic doll.
While viral challenges can often be fun and harmless, it’s essential to consider their potential impacts on our physical and mental health. The Barbie Feet Challenge has served as another reminder of how quickly harmful trends can spread across the internet and the real-world consequences they can have.
The medical community’s response has been swift and effective in educating about the risks. Still, it ultimately falls to individuals and the broader online community to promote healthier, more realistic beauty standards and discourage potentially harmful viral trends.
