Is your handbag causing you pain?

With spring being sprung I’ve noticed more and more cute bags coming into my office lately.  (With patients of course! )  I’ve also noticed that the sizes of the bags have increased substantially.  Some are almost as large as the patients that bring them in and definitely as heavy.  With this being said, I thought I’d throw out a few purse pointers to keep in mind while you’re shopping for those beautiful new Spring and Summer bags. 

So ladies, here’s my top five list of things to keep in mind while shopping!

1. Be sure to try to select a bag with a wide adjustable strap that can go over your head to distribute the weight more evenly across your entire body.

2. Switch the straps form side to side often to shift the weight to alternate sides of the body.

3. Do a little spring cleaning and empty and consolidate items in your  bag frequently to rid the bag of any unnecessary or excess weight.

4. Store frequently used items such as your cellphone and keys in the front pockets so you don’t have to excessively twist your body which can cause muscle sprains of your neck and back. 

5. American Chiropractic Association recommends a bag weighs no more than 10 percent of a person’s total body weight.  (Think between 12-15 pounds for the average woman)

A heavy purse or bag can cause back pain and shoulder pain in addition to impacting a woman’s posture.  Your spine actually curves towards the shoulder you carry your purse on.   Over time this creates other physiological problems with your upper and lower body.  If you feel you might have these problems be sure to follow up with your chiropractor, and of course, happy shopping!