How Heavy is Your Handbag?
Forgot London, Paris, Milan and New York - DONCASTER is where it's at, where one of the world’s greatest fashion items was born !
Samuel Parkinson noticed his wife couldn't carry everything in her purse and had a bag made for her that was hard wearing and that she could fit everything in….. THIS IS WHERE the problems began, having a big bag means you can and WILL carry LOADS of stuff around in it.
At Chiropractic First in Grimsby we are always looking at ways to prevent damage or stress being put on the spine, here's our HANDBAG TOP TIPS :-)
1. The first thing I recommend is empty out your bag on a regular basis. If you haven't used stuff in a week get rid of it, it's amazing how much stuff accumulate in handbags, it creeps up on you!
2. Keep additional sets of commonly used items in your car or at the office so you don’t have to carry heavy things in your handbags. This would include things like shoes, perfumes, band aids, sunscreen, lotions, a water bottle, snacks, pens, baby wipes, diaries - you name it, I'm sure at some point in time it's been in a handbag.
3. So now let’s talk about how to carry your heavy handbag - purchase a handbag that’s not so heavy by itself, a lot of the handbags are made with leather and have metal chains and they’re heavy even with nothing in them. So pick a bag that’s lightweight to begin with.
4.Pick a bag that has a strap that’s not too long or not too short. We really want the handbag to snuggle in your side, above your hip, and under your armpit. If it’s too high on your armpit, you can’t swing your arms, and if the bag is too low it will interfere with how your leg swings when you walk. You really want to maintain a very balanced perfect gait when you walk…..getting the handbag to fit your body and hit the sweet spot really makes a big difference.
5. Change the handbag from one side to the other every so often. It makes a really big difference. Most women get into the habit of carrying a shoulder bag on one shoulder for years and years and never switch, and that makes the muscles on that side overdevelop. So it’s really important to switch the side of the handbag.
6. Finally, if you have the option of using a roller bag or a backpack, it’s a really good idea, especially if you have to carry something very heavy. If you do decide to go the backpack route, and I recommend backpacks a lot, make sure you get a backpack that has well padded shoulder straps and adjust those straps so that it really fits your body. The backpacks should not sit on your low back or your sacrum. It should be up higher so the weight is properly distributed.
If you are suffering with neck or shoulder pain, then call Grimsby Chiropractor on 01472 488082. At Chiropractic First we view people as whole, health is about the whole body; so every patient that comes through our door is checked top to toe, inside out and back to front.
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