Bags: Necessity causing a big pain?

In most of the interviews of the celebrities, when they are asked about the two or three they must carry while leaving the house, you will hear them talk about the car keys, the wallet and the phone. And when you ask yourself about it, you will inevitably end up saying “Well, actually all of these necessary items are dumped in a single sack called the BAG!” Big bags, bag packs or the smaller hand bags are in fashion now, out of which the bigger ones make it far easier. But what we are missing out is the “big trouble” these bags are causing us.

Bags for all occasions!

The bag makers have given us trendy all purpose bags which fits in our work life comfortably. Whether it’s for school or office, a Saturday night-out or a corporate meet, we find bags for every occasion stacked up in our closet. And the count keeps on increasing without thinking how troublesome they are. School backpacks, purses, handbags, wallets, business bags, laptop bags are the most common types. We keep on over sizing them without realizing the potential risk posed to the spine causing imbalance to the body and the organs.

Lifestyle at workplaces at present demands us to stay prepared for all kinds of surprise appointments. This indicates that we have to make our bags into a mobile house. While wallets, keys, phone and a water bottle are the ones we need, mp3 players or iPods, novels, books and papers, sun glasses, make-up kit, mini umbrellas are the ones counted as regular stuff now.

Photo Credit: http://www.galerieslafayette.co.id/en/coach-small-bag-event/

Health issues caused due to bags

Back pain, soft tissue injuries and postural misalignment are the outcomes of carrying a heavy bag for a long time. Our backs are probably the only portion of body we take for granted. Carrying the average 2.2 kilo weighing handbag on the same shoulder can result in muscle pain and a lopsided spine. Moreover, if carried for a longer period, shoulder and neck muscles end up very sore and tender, sometimes resulting in spasms too. A heavy bag can also permanently disfigure the person as it pulls on the nerves from the vertebral column into the arm.

How to save yourself now?

What we now need to do is remember the following to allow long term health benefits.

ü  Lighten the load of your bag by taking only those considered necessary for the day. You can leave your sun glasses back when attending a late night party or keep a spare mobile charger at work.

ü  Take only those make-up items which you will use for the touch-ups instead of the entire range.

ü  You can divide your stuff into two portions and lessen the load.

ü  Replace the worn out bags with the new ones. The satchel style is a good option when you are carrying heavy load.

ü  Look for bags which have multiple pockets so that you can divide the things evenly inside.

ü  Swap those straps from one shoulder to the other every often to avoid increasing pressure.

ü  If you are carrying a laptop bag, look for a backpack with a padded back instead of the sling-style ones. Taking them on one shoulder causes uneven loading. An alternate would be switching sides and holding it close to the side. It is better to choose a light-weight laptop when frequent trips are marked on your calendar.

ü  In case of purse and handbags, avoid thin and long straps and chain handles.

ü  Heavy bags coupled with the killer stilettos is another cause for serious joint complications. Wearing high heels (over 4 cm) cause spine to unnaturally curve and tilt the pelvis towards the back resulting in knee and back ache. This causes spinal stress. Keep a pair of formal shoes at your work place (the heeled ones) and wear the flat ones to avoid unnecessary back pain every day.

ü  Wallets may be smaller but can aggravate back pain. When sitting with the wallets in the back pocket, it can damage the key nerves like the sciatica verve. A smaller, thinner style wallet is good and removing it from the back pocket while sitting is suggested.

ü  Backpacks are usually recommended for the school and college going kids. Wearing both the straps is necessary to evenly distribute the weight. Keep the load of the backpack within 10-15 percent of the body weight and carry only what is needed. Wear the backpack over the middle back muscles.

ü  Practice yoga to improve the core stability and flexibility making the body less prone to injury.