Heavy handbags can be a real pain, doctors say

Bag the big purse

TIPS TO AVOID HANDBAG STRAIN: When you're out shopping, change positions every time you go into a new department or a new store. Periodically pinch your shoulder blades together and arch your spine backwards, and stretch your neck to one side then the other for 15-20 seconds.
TIPS TO AVOID HANDBAG STRAIN: When you're out shopping, change positions every time you go into a new department or a new store. Periodically pinch your shoulder blades together and arch your spine backwards, and stretch your neck to one side then the other for 15-20 seconds.

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Order tickets in a row.

When pain in your neck travels to your back, shoulders and down your arm, your purse may be to blame. Though we tend to pack as much as we can into our handbags, packing light might be the way to go if we want to keep our posture from aging us too early.

Bags that are too heavy pull on the upper back and specifically the trapezius muscle, said Dr. Richard Kayser of Kayser Chiropractic and Acupuncture, 1011 Southwest Blvd.

Tightening the trapezius muscle causes inflammation and pain. The more inflammation you have, the more pain you'll feel, he added.

"When we scrunch up our muscles on one side, we distort our posture to compensate and hold onto the bag," said Dr. Jamie Showers of Showers Chiropractic, 915H Southwest Blvd.

Distorting posture in the upper back to keep the bag on your shoulder puts pressure on the lower back, further compounding the pain.