Is Your Purse Causing You Back Pain?
Accessories can be so fun! Something as simple as a handbag can complete an outfit for work or a date night. The daytime handbag is easily filled with laptops, snacks for the kids, diapers, water bottles, makeup, and all your MacGyver needs. The bag gets bigger, and more things go in “just in case.” I, too, am guilty of the massive purse with all my “just in case of the apocalypse” needs.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, 80 percent of people will have back pain in their lifetime. After 17 years in practice, I can tell you firsthand that your giant tote may be one of the culprits. The heavier tote on your shoulder or forearm forces your body to lean and offset the weight. All too often, I shock women in my office when I guess which shoulder they wear their bags. The truth is that I can always tell because that shoulder is usually on the elevated or high side.
Here’s a quick test. Does your bag stay up on the non-dominant shoulder or often slide off? If it slides off, look in the mirror, and look closely for that shoulder imbalance. You may not feel pain yet, but you would never drive your car out of alignment, so why would you do it to your body?
Misuse of your handbag can result in pain in the neck, shoulders, middle of the back, numbness in the shoulders, arms, and hands. For example, a heavy bag can weigh your shoulder down, causing it to roll forward. A forward rounded shoulder stretches the muscles of your upper back and neck. The more time you place this stress on your body may also irritate the nerves at the base of your neck, placing them in tension as well. Additionally, holding your handbag on your forearm for longer periods can lead to inflammation of the elbow, resulting in tennis elbow or even wrist pain. Even the bags with chains or thin shoulder straps can lead to stress when they dig into the upper trap! All of these symptoms from one simple accessory! So, what can you do to treat and or prevent these symptoms? Enter the chiropractor…
One thing I can say for sure is that you don’t have to sacrifice your body for fashion! If you don’t currently have pain but failed the shoulder test, mirror test, or both, get checked by a chiropractor. Chiropractors are great resources for getting your back and posture on track. If you are suffering, they can also help identify the problem and improve your discomfort. Stretching your upper back and neck daily will also help. You can even try laying on a tennis ball in your upper back and shoulder area to work out the knots in the muscles.
Before you put that bag on, there are a couple of tips to prevent and improve your discomfort:
Lighten your load. The American Chiropractic Association recommends your backpack be no more than 5 - 10 percent of your body weight.
Use a broad strap to minimize it cutting into your muscle.
Tighten the strap, so your bag doesn’t swing forward and backward.
Alternate shoulders.
Try a cute backpack for better support.
Avoid holding your bag on your forearm for extended periods.
Many high-end retailers cater to all types of needs. In fact, several of the luxury brands carry fanny bags, backpacks, and thick shoulder bags. Now, you know I love to shop local, so here are two of my favorite spots to get a great posture-saving bag. I just scooped up a fantastic Louis Vuitton bum bag at Mint Condition, and I swear my back is thanking me. Mint Condition is a consignment shop, so they don’t carry bum bags or backpacks regularly; however, their sister store, Mint Collective, carries the Ahdorned bag line that has gorgeous thick straps.
Happy pain-free shopping!
