Many commuters on public transit carry heavy bags to and from work, lugging meals and changes of clothes, as well as laptops and reading material. An overly heavy bag can have a painful effect on back muscles and the spine, says Charla R. Fischer, MD, spine surgeon at 好色tv Langone鈥檚 Spine Center聽and associate professor in the , in an interview with the New York Post.
Dr. Fischer recommends carrying bags weighing no more than three pounds. Anything heavier can put pressure on spine discs, leading to repetitive stress injuries, muscle strain, and even chronic back pain.
To make your bag more commute-friendly, remove things you don鈥檛 need from your bag and wallet, and think about lightweight materials like neoprene or canvas for the bag itself. One-shoulder bags can throw off the spine鈥檚 alignment, leading to stiffness or soreness, whereas backpacks distribute weight more evenly across your shoulders. 鈥淭he top of the backpack should line up with the top of the shoulder blades,鈥 says Dr. Fischer.
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