Heavy bags and backpacks for women and men can be a real cause of the development of serious pathologies of the spine and even lead to its curvature. Doctor, traumatologist-orthopedist Daria Cheremisova told socialbites.ca about this.
The main risk factors include improper distribution of weight on the shoulders.
“If your bag is too heavy or your backpack is heavy and you carry it on one shoulder, this causes the load on the musculoskeletal system to be unevenly distributed. The main weight puts pressure on only one side of the spine, forcing you to bend slightly to redistribute the load. “This causes a change in gait: You change direction towards the side that bears more weight, which leads to deformation of the joints and can be a significant cause of curvature of the spine,” he explained.
Another important factor is that you are standing or walking incorrectly.
“When you lift a heavy bag or backpack, you often lean forward to cope with the new load due to the additional weight. The second risk factor that often develops for owners of heavy backpacks is the need to project their shoulders to keep the weight behind them and not fall backwards. If the weight of the backpack exceeds 5 kg, you run the risk of pain in the lower back and chest area and even injuries to the intervertebral discs. And weight exceeding 20 percent of your body weight threatens a serious back injury,” the doctor emphasized.
Also, according to the doctor, by lifting a bag with one hand or carrying it on one shoulder, you put uneven load on your back and shoulder muscles. If this happens over a long period of time, it causes muscle tension and weakening of some body muscles due to improperly distributed load.
To prevent possible pathologies in the musculoskeletal system, the orthopedist recommended refusing to carry heavy objects. Wear only what is necessary – this way you can significantly reduce the risk of developing diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
“To prevent back pain, take massage courses periodically. This procedure will help relieve muscle tension, restore blood flow, relieve pain and restore the proper functioning of the entire musculoskeletal system. “If you have to carry heavy things in your bag or you cannot refuse many things, periodically move the bag from shoulder to shoulder to ensure balance of the load,” he concluded.
Former orthopedic specialist saidHow to help a schoolchild maintain posture?