The New
‘Aahs’
at Spas
Trends
With more of us managing achy backs and creaking knees, many spas are now promoting pain-management reatments. But do these therapies work? “They don’t change anything about the
underlying problem, but for the short run they do make you feel good,” says
Mehul Desai, M. D., director of pain medicine at The George Washington
University Hospital in Washington, D.C. That means you can feel better for
a few hours to a few days—and sometimes a few months. Check out these
popular services (prices vary but average $95 each). —Christina Ianzito
Radiant heat from a pad or
sauna that deeply penetrates
the body without harming skin
Loosens muscles,
relieves tension and
pain, increases flexibility
Typically a hot-water mineral
bath with jet-stream massage
Improves circulation,
relaxes muscles
A massage that includes
topical menthol-based
products
Improves circulation,
relieves muscle and
joint pain
FROM TOP: ILLUSTRATION BY SILJA GOE TZ; ILLUS TRATION B Y JOHN UELAND.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING FOR“HEEL APPEAL” BY LAURA DAILY
HEEL APPEAL You’re not shrinking—young women are growing. Or at least their shoes are. “Heels are higher than they once were,” says Vasilios Christofilakos of the Fashion Institute of Technolo- gy. And 40 percent of women 18 through 34 say they’ve worn heels higher than 4 inches. But
with a study finding that wearing heels can lead to
joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis—and that
taller shoes have bigger risks—be glad you’re, um,
above this trend. —Leslie Quander Wooldridge
Ah, Youth! Sometimes We Don’t Miss It
