Does a long day of shopping leave you with aches, pains and a horrible
headache? It might be more than just the stress of finding that last minute
gift or having to fight the holiday crowd, your purse may be the real culprit.
“What many don’t realize is that the pressure from the weight
of their purse and the shift in posture from carrying that weight, can
lead to headaches, neck, and/or back pain,” said Matt O’Neill,
PT, DPT, OCS, CEAS I, a physical therapist at CVMC’s Center for
Rehabilitation. To prevent this ‘purse problem’ Matt suggest
these tips:
Pack lightly and only carry what is essential for the day. In general, your handbag should not exceed 10% of your body weight. This
means a 140lb person should carry no more than 14lbs.
Consider the type of bag you’re carrying. Anything that is worn with a strap crossing diagonally over the chest
(like a messenger bag) will help disperse the bag’s weight. Try
to avoid bags with skinny or chain-link straps and ones with unnecessary
embellishments that only add to the weight of your purse or pressure on
your shoulder.
Give yourself a break. When you start feeling pressure or pain try moving your purse to the opposite
shoulder or even better – take it off completely.
If nothing else, consider switching to a smaller purse. The smaller the purse, the less room for unnecessary things. Therefore,
preventing your bag from becoming too heavy.
To find out how physical therapist, Matt O’Neill, can help relieve
some of those nagging aches and pains call the CVMC Center for Rehabilitation
at 828.326.2131.