No woman’s wardrobe is finished unless it has an accessible purse. On the other hand, quite a few women like to fill their purse up with not only the things they need but a number of other items and knick-knacks as well.
What’s the result? A purse that’s really too much for a pair of slender shoulders to have the responsibility for carrying. Lugging around a heavy or big purse every day can eventually give you or someone you love back pain, if not also neck and even shoulder pain.
Keep reading to learn what factors make the best purses for back pain, several specific product recommendations, a list of potential alternatives, and the importance of stretching every day.
Reviews: Best Purses for Back Pain
There are too many good and great purses out there for back pain to possibly list all here at once. Still, the following are 5 recommendations you should consider as a starting point in your shopping either for yourself or someone that you truly care about.
AmeriBag Classic Leather-Extra Small
The teardrop structure of bags like these relieve the weight other bags would place on your shoulders and neck, instead opting for an even distribution along the back for considerably more comfort. Thick and padded shoulder strapping means even less strain when carrying this, and the adjustability of it lets you carry it many different ways.
This innovatively ergonomic bag has enough space and organization to make for a very effective purse, but you can also use it as a gym bag or for other functions as you need.
Vera Bradley Glenna Satchel Purse
It’s hard to carry anything by Vera Bradley and not be considered fashionable. The Parisian Paisley look can be just pop that your outfit needs too.
This is a lightweight purse featuring an in-built wallet to save space and time. The adjustable strap can be fitted to your size and shape, and you can extend it out for a cross-body carry. If one of your shoulders starts getting sore, then just quickly and easily swing it around to the fresh side of your neck.
Dakine Jo Jo Shoulder Bag
This brand knows a thing or two about comfortable item storage and transport, between their crossbody bags, backpacks, and rolling carry on luggage for seniors. The variety of styles and colorful patterns are a big hit with many users.
If you’re looking for a good purse for back pain for yourself or just as a good gift for a senior you love, then consider their Jo Jo women’s crossbody bag. This robust shoulder bag has a spacious compartment for your essentials, and the shoulder strap is adjustable for customized fitting. Only 7.4 oz. in weight, it’s created using recycled materials so you can help save the world while saving your back.
Clutch Bag with RFID
Ergonomic clutches are proving to be a meeting ground between women looking for a pain-free purse and men wanting a good-sized wallet. Carry the essentials you need in the palm of your hand. As much as they protect your back, they also protect your identity with a distinct composite metal that blocks out most RFID signals from unauthorized scanning.
Convenience is further extended with a design that makes it easy to push cards and out, reducing back strain from having to dig into your purse or wallet with arthritic hands.. Don’t worry, there’s room for up to a dozen cards, so retail therapy is still easy to do.
MINICAT RFID Blocking Crossbody Purse Bag
If you’re looking for small, then this bag is pretty much the end of the road. It’s tiny in size, but most women can fit their phone, keys, money, credit cards, and some lipstick without much effort.
The interior lining features a fuzzy material that prevents damage and friction to your phone. Affordable and available in many different colors, this minimalist look will have your back and neck saying big thank you’s.
Buying Guide: What Should You Look For In A Purse For Someone With Back Pain?
Several factors come into play if you’re looking for a purse for yourself or someone you care about who has back pain.
Lighten Your Load
For starters, you should only tote 10 percent of your total body weight in any bag, and even less is preferable. If you have a bag that weighs 5 pounds even when empty, then you’re not starting off right. An excessive load can make your neck and head jut a bit forward instead of remaining directly over your shoulders. This results in back pain, neck tension, and headaches.
Shorter Straps Are Better
Secondly, forget shoulder bags with long straps. These will tug you into a C shape as you lean to one side. The purse bumps your hip, and the strap will slip enough that you keep hunching your arthritic shoulder to try and keep things in place. While they’re attractive to some, chains are also a bad idea since they can gouge your flesh.
Easy Access Reduces Twisting and Torquing
Third, you want easy access. Anything that has plenty of compartments and pockets makes it easier to find the things you carry. Having to dig around inside your bag can strain or twist your back, resulting in misalignment of your spine and more back pain.
Light Materials with Few Adornments
Fourth, you want light materials without a lot of detailing. Options like nylon or leather are better than anything heavier, especially if adorned with heavy stones, studs, buckles, or metal hardware.
Smaller is Generally Better
Fifth, smaller is better here. Small bags are harder to weigh down with too much stuff. They’re also easier to carry right, which could over your shoulder while tucked underneath your arm, held in your hand, or over your forearm or in your elbow crook.
Shoulder bags need to fall closely to your center of gravity when possible, which is usually near your waist or navel, although maybe a bit higher for petite women. Busty women need to avoid shoulder bags of all kinds since their alignment might already be dragged out of whack just due to their physique.
Alternatives To Purses
It’s always great to start looking for ergonomic purses and bags to help out your own back pain or someone else’s. However, they don’t always make for very stylish choices.Fortunately, there are many alternatives to purses.
Sashes with Compartments
For starters, there are now decorative sashes that can be worn with your attire that feature purse compartments or storage. These garments simply take the idea of a shoulder strap and replace it with a crossbody sash, ranging from simple and stylish to elegant and formal.
Backpacks
Backpacks can also work for seniors in many settings, so long as they have both straps. Fanny packs get a bad rap, and they have for a long time; yet, they’re still very effective. Consider either of these if you are using a walker or cane to get around.
Multiple Use Bags
An exciting new area of development is that of multiple-way bags. These can be used as backpacks, shoulder bags, and cross-body bags. Such versatility should be welcome in any wardrobe.
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Summary and Final Recommendations
When it’s all said and done, regardless of what bag you choose, you need to remember to do your daily stretching. Spending just a few moments near the end of your day stretching the right way can help you unwind the imbalances that result from heavy handbags. Get a small therapy ball you can use to roll out trigger points and their associated tensions in certain muscles.
Check in with your body regularly. If you continue to have back pain, or you start experiencing tingling and/numbness in your arms and hands, or suspect you may have fibromyalgia back pain then you should consult a doctor, orthopedist or chiropractor.
You always want to be stylish and fashionable enough to feel great about yourself and occasionally draw compliments, but how great will you really feel if your fashion sense defies physical sense because of chronic pain? Use what you have read here to look and feel great at the same time, regardless of your age or condition.
