To carry personal things, groceries, or even animals from A to B, there are a variety of different bags, backpacks or baskets which facilitate transportation. However, the longer we are on the road and the heavier the contents, the faster our body makes itself felt. Neck, shoulder and back pain may be the result and affect our day. Do you also suffer from such complaints from day to day? In today’s article, we’ll give you a few tips and tricks on how to carry your bag properly.
Severe strain on the body
Many people – especially women – know the feeling of relief when they put down their heavy handbag at the end of the day. Finally, freedom and lightness! But day after day it goes on like this and hardly anyone really does anything about it. Yet our body can be so severely stressed by this incorrect or excessive loading that pain, tension, or intervertebral disk problems can be a serious consequence. Especially in children, incorrect and too heavy carrying can lead to the development of scoliosis, a malposition of the spine.
So, in order to relieve and protect your back sustainably, here are a few tips and tricks that you should follow.
Basics – throwing off ballast
To get rid of unnecessary weight, sort out all the trash from your pockets. Leftover utensils often accumulate in handbags and not only take up space, but also make it more difficult to carry them. Think about what you really need. Purses can also be hodgepodges, so it’s worth taking a look in your purse to get rid of old and unusable items.
Carry two bags
If we carry only one heavy bag over our shoulder – for example when shopping – we either have to lift the shoulder or bend the upper body in the other direction so that the bag does not slide off. This also curves the spine, which can lead to misalignment or faster wear and tear of the vertebrae. To counteract this, the weight should be divided between two bags and thus both shoulders. This prevents an asymmetrical posture and also makes the carrier feel more comfortable.
Change sides
For our body handbags or bags carried on one side are undoubtedly the least favorable to carry. However, if you are a passionate handbag carrier, at least change sides regularly. This way you will prevent a possible curvature of your upper body or your spine and you will also notice how one-sided tensions in the shoulder and neck area will decrease. Alternatively, carrying the bag cross-body can relieve some pressure.
Rethink bag size and format
If you’re not too attached to handbags, rethink your bag choice and go for a backpack next time. This is the most ergonomic way of carrying and will be a great pleasure for your back. With backpacks the weight is optimally distributed on the back. Especially models with hip straps relieve the shoulders immensely and transfer the weight more to the hips and legs. Rather go for smaller models since you cannot pack them as full and hence, end up not carrying as much weight around with you. Also don’t wear your backpack too low as it puts more weight on your shoulders. Instead of widening the straps rather buckle the backpack a little higher.
Strengthen the torso
Carrying bags can’t be completely avoided and sometimes heavy things have to be transported. To sustainably prepare your body for such loads consider a regular workout routine. For example, you can strengthen your body with sit-ups, planks or special back exercises. This will certainly save you some pain from overstraining and will be good for your well-being overall.