What’s weighing you down?

Today’s post is a public service announcement for anyone experiencing shoulder pain or upper back pain, especially if it affects one side more than the other.

Does this sound like you?  Sometimes the causes of pain can be complex and sometimes they can be quite simple.  It’s often the simple things that we gloss over when we’re looking for some relief, so I want to address one common situation I see with many of my clients.

In a word: bags.  Purses, computer bags, handbags, and briefcases are parts of daily life that could be causing us pain without us even realizing it.  Bags that sling over one shoulder put extra pressure on that one side of the body and wrench us out of line as our muscles try to compensate for the additional load.  The bones of our shoulder become compressed, our spine gets pulled out of alignment, and we end up with seemingly inexplicable, nagging pain in our neck, shoulder, upper back, and/or mid back.

Years ago, I had a guy coming into my office for regular visits twice a month to address his shoulder, neck, and back pain that he had been experiencing for several months.   He was finally tired of it and wanted to see if getting some bodywork would help.  He would feel better for a few days after his sessions and then the pain would act up again, though he couldn’t figure out why.  We had been working together for a couple of months when one day he accidentally left behind a personal item in my office during his session.  I realized this a moment after he departed and followed him out to try to catch him only to see him walking down the street, one shoulder being pulled down by a rather heavy-looking computer bag, his neck pulling in the opposite direction, and the rest of his body working to brace against the pressure.  After a few more sessions and applying some of the ideas below, he was feeling much better.

What are some solutions?

• Backpacks. I love backpacks.  I know they’re not as fashionable as some alternatives, but they can help tremendously with bag-related pain and discomfort since they keep the weight balanced between both sides.

• Alternate. If you’d rather hold on to your current bag, try alternating which hand or shoulder you carry it with.   Today use your right side, tomorrow your left.

• Lighten your load. Clean out your purse, re-evaluate what you carry around day in and day out, and let some of the contents of your bag go.  With some investigation, you’ll probably realize that you don’t need to carry around as much as you have been.

• Stretching.  Consult your local massage therapist, physical therapist, yoga practitioner, etc., for tips on how to stretch your neck, back, and shoulders every day to help your body stay relaxed with the added pressure from your bag.

My client from the story above switched his computer bag for a backpack, decided to carry a bit less in it, and incorporated some stretching, especially in the initial stages.  Take a moment to think about whether or not the bag you carry around could be contributing to the pain you’ve been experiencing and see if you can make some adjustments that fit with your lifestyle.  It may be a welcome, simple solution.