In my office, I have been seeing an influx of women coming into the office complaining of neck, shoulder, back pain, and arm numbness. I go through my usual questions about activity, stress, trauma, etc, but in the back of my mind, I know the culprit – the excessively large handbag sitting on the floor next to them.
When I question them about their handbags, they often say, “oh it’s not that heavy” however when I lift it, it feels close to 7-10 lbs.
A brick of a wallet, extra clothes, water bottles, books, IPad, perhaps an umbrella, it’s no surprise that these bags are the source of many musculoskeletal health issues. Carrying a heavy bag, particularly on one shoulder can definitely affect movement.
Picture yourself carrying a large load (e.g. a grocery bag), your body automatically shifts to one side to help counter the weight. The shoulder carrying the load automatically rotates back and raises up in response to the load. Because of our need to see straight ahead (a product of evolutionary hunting behaviour), the neck will tilt to ensure our eyesight is in line with the horizon.
Now imagine carrying that heavy grocery bag with you throughout the day, running for the bus, or shopping around the mall. Not very natural or comfortable, is it?
Now imagine the effects of that compounded even more while wearing high heels (as many professional women are apt to do)!
This is a great article detailing what happens to various parts of your body while carrying a load. Please take a few minutes to read it!
So what can you do to prevent this? Besides getting a smaller bag, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- DE-JUNK your bag – I do this weekly; go through your bag and remove anything that you don’t need, old receipts, loose change, any garbage that you threw in the bag to save time, etc.
- Keep it light! – is it really necessary to carry that 1L water bottle with you? Check the weather report in the morning, is it necessary to have that umbrella in your bag at all times?
- Find a bag with a long, wide strap – Although perhaps not fashion forward, carrying a bag diagonally across your chest and having a wider strap will help disperse the weight load.
- Switch shoulders – If the long strap is just not for you, switch carrying the load on either side to keep it balanced
- Focus on posture – Like your mother always says, don’t slouch! Proper form, as all athletes will know, is essential for a reason – it prevents injuries and helps keep you healthy in the long run.
If you do have symptoms, don’t delay in seeking treatment from the appropriate health care professional. A visit to your chiropractor can help avoid further injury and perhaps teach you a few tips so you can enjoy being fashionista without the pain!
Spinal Thoughts 