Combating handbag pain
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They are convenient and necessary for many jobs. But at times bags, briefcases and purses can also take a toll on our bodies.
Now while we’re talking about weight in this story, it’s not the normal weight discussed in health stories. Some of our bags are shockingly heavy. Today we put them on the scales to find out just how much extra weight we’re carrying around.
Have you ever weighed your handbag? Do you ever think about how much it weighs? Do you have a guess? “I have no idea. Five pounds maybe?”
“Just about five and a half pounds.”
“That bag weighs almost 10 pounds.”
Back specialist, Doctor Anthony Lombardi suggests a three to five pound maximum. And even at that, the daily strain of “purse pain” can add up.
Dr. Lombardi: ‘Headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain.”
Too much direct pressure on your shoulder can cause nerve damage and tingling in your hands.
Dr. Lombardi: “Muscles get tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter and then they finally tighten up and go into spasm and create a lot of inflammation and that’s when you get people usually realize there’s a problem.”
The best solution is lightening your load. But choosing a cross body bag with a thick strap can help — and switch sides often.
Backpacks are better at dispersing weight across the body, but with more space comes more weight.
About 18 pounds. It weighs so much it’s making my hand shake.
For little bodies, the heft of a heavy knapsack can be overwhelming.
“Makes me feel like I’m gonna’ fall over.”
A kid’s bag should weigh less than 15 per cent of what the child weighs. More could cause lasting damage.
Dr. Lombardi: “They can be creating damage over a period of time because children are growing and as muscles become tight, they’re used to being tight over a long period of time if that’s the case.”
Whether you carry a backpack, purse or briefcase, you may want to re-evaluate whether its contents are more important than your back.
If you can’t sacrifice any of the items in your bag, there are a few strategies for reducing strain.
Most important is alternating the arm or shoulder you carry your bag on.
You should also choose something with a thick strap that can be carried across your body.
Keeping the weight close to your body also helps. So does holding the bag at arm’s length and using the momentum of its swing to reduce the weight you feel.
There’s also a simple back exercise you can do to strengthen your back muscles. Just squeeze your shoulder blades together like you’re pinching a pencil.
And if you’re experiencing severe or ongoing pain, talk to a health care provider.
