Downsize Your Bag to Avoid Back Pain
By Sara Butler
Anyone who carries a bag around needs to worry about back pain. While you may feel you need a bag to carry your life around in on a daily basis, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to know that your oversized purse or sweet man bag could be having a detrimental impact on the health of your spine. Here's what you need to know about heavy bags and what you can do to help lighten your load.
What Pain?
If you've noticed that your back, arms, shoulders, neck, or even buttocks have been hurting you, then it might be because of your bag. Especially when you carry your bag on one side of your body, your center of gravity is thrown off. This causes muscles on the other side of your body to overcompensate in an attempt to help keep you upright and can lead to joint dysfunctions and restrictions that eventually lead to pain.
Start Small
Perhaps the best place to start making an impact on the bag you carry is with your wallet. Bulky wallets can add quite a bit of weight to your bag. To combat this, try a wallet with a smaller profile and only keep your essentials in it. Yes, it may be time to finally get rid of all those expired coupons.
Make It Travel Size
Sometimes you can't avoid carrying around the things in your bag, especially if you have small kids. In this case, try to downsize to travel-sized necessities. That way you won't have to carry around large tubes or containers of the thing you use most. Your neck and shoulders will thank you for this small change!
Dump the Spare Change
Sure, spare change can come in handy when it's time to pay the parking meter, but since the world is mostly electronic now, there's no need to carry around so much spare change. If you can make it habit to put spare change in your piggy bank daily, then it'll help lighten the load for your back each day and help you get one step closer to that dream vacation to Bora Bora.
If you are experiencing back pain you think may be related to your bag, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic for some tips to help. If you can sort out the weight you carry each day, then you're taking a big step toward protecting your spine and contributing to better spinal health.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Los Angeles, Calif.