Your Purse Is Too Heavy. Here's Why You Should Care

TIME—December 19, 2017

TIME reporter Jamie Ducharme writes on the health issues associated with toting around heavy bags.

She speaks to Sabrina M. Strickland, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, who explains how misalignment can lead to pain in your back, neck, shoulders and muscles, and joint strain. Dr. Strickland offers tips on how to carry a heavy bag in a safer way including dispersing weight across both shoulders, especially when you have to carry two bags at once.

While the general rule of thumb is that your purse should never exceed 10% of your body weight, Dr. Strickland recommends an even lighter threshold. "If you start to get around six or seven pounds, I think you should start thinking about a second bag."

Regardless of the weight in your bag, having a strong core will help you stand straight. "Having good posture depends on core strength, and having good strength allows us to have good posture," said Dr. Strickland, who noted workouts such as planks, sit-ups, and oblique and back exercises to help strengthen your core.

Read the full article at TIME.com.

Additional Coverage:

• The Cheat Sheet: Your Purse Is Seriously Hurting Your Health — Here’s What You Need to Do