Handbags are one of the most significant accessories in women's fashion. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes and are quite literally indispensable for women. When choosing a handbag, women prefer the one that are fashionable and stylish. But did you think for once that your handbag might be the cause for your back and neck pain?
Big bags are in fashion these days. As the bags become bigger, the content that they carry has increased making them heavier. Now-a-days one puts anything right from iPods to netbook to a make up kit in their hangbags. All this heaviness poses a serious health risk. A heavy handbag, shoulder bag, or purse can injure your back, neck, and shoulders.
"The Handbag Syndrome"
Researchers have found that an average weight of a handbag has gone up to 3 kgs in recent years. Women are putting everything in their handbags like camera, mobile phone, make-up kit, wallet, laptop, umbrella, water bottle etc. As a result an extraordinary amount of pressure is exerted on their backs and necks leading to pain and swelling. This is called as the 'hand bag syndrome'.
When a person carries a heavy bag on one side over a long period of time, the natural curve of the neck - that evenly distributes pressures on the spine - starts to get distorted which can lead to chronic neck and shoulder pain, back pain, and even headaches. Handbags also create poor posture by encouraging the carrier to lean to one side. This reduces their ability to maintain balance and restricts movement. Although mostly this syndrome is seen in women, men are not safe from this as well (as they would be carrying a briefcase or a laptop shoulder bag).
This syndrome is so wide spread these days that general practitioners and physical therapists are asking that manufacturers place small warning labels on the handbags, warning of the effects of overloading the bags with heavy items.
How to protect yourself from The Handbag Syndrome?
The best way to avoid this syndrome is to pick a handbag that is right for you. Here are some factors you would need to consider when choosing one:
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Size: You need to choose your handbag so that it fits your body type. If you are short and slim, make sure you avoid all the big and heavy bags. Choose a handbag that provides a scale and balance to your body.
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Weight: Your hand bag should not weigh more than 10 percent of your body weight. More than that and you will be putting unnecessary pressure on your back, neck and joints. Also, if possible, select a bag made of lightweight material such as vinyl or canvas instead of leather.
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Straps: Make sure that the straps of the bag are wide and cushioned. This will distribute the pressure on your shoulders, putting you at ease. Poorly designed shoulder straps can dig deep into muscles causing strain and pinched nerves. The straps should also be adjustable so that you can adjust them according to your height. Additionally, if the strap is long enough, you can place it over your head to rest on the opposite side of the body. This will help to distribute weight more evenly.
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Form over fashion: Make sure that the bag can carry all the stuff that you want it to. Do not buy it only because it is fashionable. It should have multiple compartments rather than just one big one to balance the weight throughout and keep contents of the bag from shifting. Don't be tempted by trendy shapes that don't suit your figure.
Once you select the right hand bag for you, you need to know the right way to carry it around. Half the injuries happen because people lift the bag inappropriately. Here are a few tips to help you with the same:
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Always pack your bag light with the base essentials to avoid excessive pressure. Pay attention to the things that you use most often and consider leaving some less commonly used items behind.
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Pack your stuff evenly throughout the bag and use all the pockets to the maximum. The heavy items should be at the bottom whereas the light one should be at the top.
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During the course of the week, you tend to put a lot of unnecassary items in your bag. So, fully clean out your bag once a week.
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Make sure that your body posture is not leaning because of the weight of the bag. Your shoulders shouldn't slump when carrying the bag. It adds to the strain. If possible, put the strap over your head and on the opposite shoulder to balance the weight and keep the bag from slipping.
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You can alternate shoulders by switching the bag from side to side every 5 to 10 minutes to avoid shoulder and neck pain. When you carry a heavy load on one side of your body for long, you will hike one shoulder to subconsciously guard against the weight. This results in the unnatural counterbalance movement of the other shoulder. This, in the worst case, can restrict and compress your spinal joints leading to headaches, arm pain, shoulder pain, back pain and neck pain.
Your choice of bag will help in the war of trying to stay pain free and healthy!
