If you are one of the many women who insist on carrying the whole world on her shoulder, there may be help. We know how important it is in our fast paced lives to be prepared for everything. That is exactly the reason we fill our purses daily with band-aids, sippy cups, hair brushes, lotions, pens, cell phones, and anything else we can cram in one of those hidden compartments.
We are so busy preparing for the day that we often forget the back and neck pain that can be brought on from lugging a heavy bag around all day. Dr. Jane Sadler weighed in on the issue in a news report issued by the Baylor Health Care System.
She spoke about the patients who come in to her office complaining of neck pain and headaches. Dr. Sadler said, “What I usually do is look for their purse and pick it up. We take it over to the scale and weigh it and usually they’re anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds.” (Think of it as the equivalent of carrying a small baby or watermelon around all day on one shoulder.)
So, what can we do to lighten our load? The folks at O Magazinerecently interviewed chiropractor Isis M. Medina to find out just that. Here are a few of the tips Medina offered to relieve women of pain from a purse:
? Do not carry a bag that is more than 10 percent of your body weight. A bag more than five pounds when empty is a bad start. ? Avoid long straps because they tend to tug you to one side in a C shape, with the purse bumping at your hip. ? Try the purse on to test for comfort before you make a purchase.
What do you think of these tips to lessen the pain caused from a heavy purse?
Are you or have you ever been guilty of carrying an oversized overweight bag?
I'm a massage therapist specializing in neck, shoulder and back pain. I ask women patients to let me feel their purses and am always amazed at how heavy they are. I advise women to transfer their absolute essentials to a really small purse and keep rest of their "stuff" in their trunk.
dragonflylover::
on Nov 27, 2007
I sure can see how purses get overloaded. My husband is notorious for asking me to put something in my purse for him. Of course I have plently of my own junk as well. I do try to keep it to a minimum but I just like to be prepared for whatever I might come across. During this season you definately want your Purrell with you for washing your hands if you can't get to water. The stuff just keeps adding up. What are ya gonna do????
jsgkelley::
on Dec 09, 2007
It seems like no matter how hard I try, my purse weighs "a ton." I try to take out what I don't need, but the bag is heavy even when it is empty. Why don't stores get together and have one "magic" card that gets their products? I have to carry 15 different cards to purchase their specials. I don't know what the solution is, but my back and neck really let me know they don't like it when I shop all day carrying a bag on my shoulder.
lynda62::
on Dec 18, 2007
Mine was getting too heavy for this Christmas shopping so I decided to at least get rid of the change in the bottom of my handbag. It was like having a piggy bank in the bottom of my bag.
sweet_angel::
on Jan 02, 2008
I finally did away with a purse, had to get weigh one time left my purse on my shoulder, they oops put it down, that thing weighed 3 lbs.
now it is so much easier not have to lug it around.
palmbgirly::
on Apr 16, 2008
I am actually looking for a leather purse that doesn't weigh too much before anything's inside. It seems like everything I've tried on seems heavy without anything inside...then I add my cell phone, lip gloss card holder (actually a business card holder which I put my cards in) pen, lipgloss, chapstick + keys. It seems like it'll weigh a ton with everything inside. Hopefully, I'll figure something out soon.
Lndy::
on Aug 13, 2008
I LOVE a big purse. I just go through it each evening and take out the junk I have acquired through out the day.
shanns316::
on Nov 28, 2008
It is the same rule as a backpack for your kids too much can cause damage you would not think soo but it does if you ned to carry a large purse clean it out once a day I was quilty carrying a large purse when my girls were little now that they are teens they have their own so I do not need to fuss as much as when they were younger
Sanjabay::
on Dec 03, 2008
I carry way too much stuff in my purse, everthing form the necessities to a bottle of water. I've found that wearing a cross body purse better distributes the weight.
