There are a variety of things used to transport personal items ranging from totes, to shoulder bags and purses. Many people who carry large amounts of items or heavy loads opt to use a rolling backpacks. Others may prefer a canvas messenger bag or tote. The method we use is often selected based on the latest fashion trends. According to chiropractors, we should be placing far more importance on the bags we use on a daily basis to transport our belongings.
Unfortunately, we are spending a significant amount of time hunched over our computers typing, eating at our desks, texting and many other things. The issue with this is that we are positioning our body in a forward motion which causes increased problems with our posture. These negative effects of our posture eventually lead to lower back and neck pain. When you use a bag that isn’t well balanced on your body, the pain is just emphasized. Having good posture means maintaining the natural curvatures in the spine and activating the necessary muscles to stay upright Even worse and compounding the issue, we are selecting the biggest bag possible and carrying around everything we might possibly need. For most of us who are not minimalists, our bags contain a laptop, charger, phone, lunch, hand sanitizer, wallet, cosmetics, water and anything else we might possibly need, Chiropractors warn that as the size of our bags increases, so does the problem with our posture. When we carry a heavy load over one shoulder, we tend to slouch to the dominant side to counteract the imbalance. The preferred method is to use a backpack with two straps to evenly distribute the weight.
Backpacks typically have a chest strap and a waist strap. But many of us opt to not use these additional straps as they can look tactical or don’t work well with our outfit. Though poor posture or chronic back pain is far worse than looking like you’re going for a hike, many of us fail to come to this conclusion on our own.
Due to the impact they have on posture and inability to evenly distribute weight, shoulder bags are the worst option and they are closely followed by a cross body bag. Anything that doesn’t allow for even weight distribution can lead to a muscle imbalance and your body will naturally try to compensate. This is why opting for a backpack or rolling bag is the best option.
Some people are unwilling to sacrifice when it comes to style and refuse to give up their shoulder or cross body bag. There are still ways to improve the impacts these options have on your posture. One way is to reduce the load you are carrying. Another suggestion is to take care of your body when you are not carrying a bag. Take the time to stretch, use a foam roller and participate in yoga or other gentle movement classes to help correct your posture. There are many different class options which can help people improve their alignment and balance. For some people, an online class may work well as they can easily fit it into a busy schedule and the classes be done from the comfort of their home.
