Whilst small handbags are making a comeback it doesn’t appear that leaving behind larger and heavier bags is going to go away anytime soon. There’s always too much stiff to carry around, right?
Unfortunately there’s often a price to carrying these large and heavy bags around. Research* undertaken by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) in 2017 revealed that oversized bags and those worn on one side of the body was in the top 5 most worn clothing item that may cause back pain in women.
Our team of chiropractors at Cliffs Chiropractor in Southend offer this back safe advice to all of you who can’t leave the house without a large and heavy bag:
- Declutter: Empty your bag out and leave behind all the unnecessary clutter. It may be surprising just how much clutter there is.
- Avoid certain types of bags: Bags that must be carried in the crook of your arm, for example, result in the bag being carried away from the body, pulling one shoulder lower than the other and twisting the neck and spine, which is not a good thing.
- Alternate shoulders: If your bag has a strap then alternate the shoulder you are carrying it on.
- Wear the bag across your body: If your bag has a long enough strap then wear it across your body.
If you are experiencing back pain for more than a few days then you seek professional help. Our chiropractors at Cliffs advise that an undiagnosed problem could lead to longer-term problems if left untreated. If you are in pain, you can call our friendly reception team and they will make an appointment for you to visit one of our chiropractors.
*The 2017 research was carried out between 14/02/2017 and 20/02/2017 on a sample of 2,082 UK adults aged 16 + on behalf of the British Chiropractic Association
Most popular clothing choices among women which could cause neck and back pain:
| Women | |
| Skinny jeans | 48% |
| Bags worn on one side of the body | 46% |
| Coats with large fluffy hoods | 37% |
| High heeled shoes | 26% |
| Oversized bags | 24% |
| Backless shoes e.g. mules | 20% |