“When people wear an inappropriate bag, especially one that places undue strain on the spine, they will frequently develop shoulder pain along with lower neck and upper back pain,” Dr. Luke Macyszyn, a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in the surgical treatment of complex spinal disorders at DISC Sports & Spine Center told us.
According to Dr. Macyszyn, large totes and shoulder bags are the most likely to cause harm and should only be used for short and necessary tasks like carrying groceries or doing a quick errand. If you need to carrying a lot of things with you, like medical gear or a laptop, he recommends opting for a supportive backpack (wearing both straps) or even something with wheels, as to put “no load on the spine.” Yet, for errands, walks, evenings out or general everyday wear, he recommends just trying to take less stuff with you and opting for a smaller, lightweight bag — specifically something with a thick, supportive strap, that you can wear across your body or around your waist, being mindful to trade off which shoulder you have it on during the day.
