We are known to throw everything but the kitchen sink into their purses, and we all know they can get quite heavy… “There seems to be an epidemic of sore shoulders and necks coming into the clinic lately.” Massage Therapist Brian Tow said, “The first thing I look at is their purse. I would say most of the women who come in with neck or shoulder pain is due to their purse. Of course regular massage therapy helps with the pain. But my goal is prevention not managing symptoms.”
Women report feeling like there is a vice grip around their neck and a lot of weight on their shoulders, even after they take the bag off. So before you buy a bag, try it out first. Put it on and walk around with it a bit. Try and put something with weight in there. Pay attention to the lengths of the straps, the width, the material and stitching even can cause irritation to the skin. Compartment size and strap location is important for distribution.
And most importantly, try to edit what you put into you bag. At least 40% of what women carry in their purses could be left at home. Try leaving a set of makeup at the office so you don’t have to tote it all around. Make sure to alternate shoulders.