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PrintMedical Reports: Heavy Load
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Producer:
Mailyn Mederos
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South Florida is known for its trend-setting styles but a warning for you fashionistas out there. Seven's Belkys Nerey shows us how one of this season's must-have accessories may be creating a Heavy Load.
WSVN -- They are all over magazines, inside every store and on almost every woman walking down Lincoln Road. Carrying a big bag this summer is a must.
Melissa Garcia: "It's just a bag you have to have."
And, like most women, Melissa Garcia bases what she takes with her on how big of a bag she's carrying.
Melissa: "Most of it is not a necessity because the same stuff fits in a small purse."
Fashion isn't Amy Bressman's concern.
She buys big bags because they're convenient.
Amy: "I leave the house, I throw everything I can in my bag. That's why I have one bag to hold, and it makes life a lot easier."
Easier ... maybe. But Melissa and Amy are both paying for carrying that heavy load.
Amy: "I have some shoulder pain, some neck pain, a little bit of back pain, and it's all related to where I hold my bag."
The pain got so bad that Amy decided to see a doctor.
Matthew Cooper: "That's why this muscle is becoming so tight."
Dr. Cooper says when a woman comes in with pain like this, the first thing he checks out is her bag.
Dr. Cooper: "So, if you're carrying your bag on your shoulder, what's happening is that your shoulder is coming up, and it's coming forward, which is causing you to have tight trapezius muscles, tight scalene and SCM muscles."
And he says most women can easily get rid of the pain by just switching to a smaller bag or lightening their load.
Dr. Cooper: "So, what we try to have them do is we try to eliminate some of the items that are in their bag."
Dr. Cooper: "The water we are going to keep it in the bag. She really should read the magazine and be done with it. I don't know if you're going to be using all this makeup today. You should really go through and determine which makeup you will be using today."
And, believe it or not, there is a proper way to carry your bag.Dr. Cooper: "Carry it for ten minutes on one side and ten minutes on the other side."
And it's working for Melissa.
Melissa: "If I'm using it all day long in the mall, you'll see me changing from shoulder to shoulder.
Dr. Cooper says, for some patients, relief only comes with special exercises and massage therapy.
Amy: "He does a lot of hands-on therapy, his massage therapist, and I do some exercises in the gym that are supposed to make my life a lot easier."
But, if you want to really make your life easier, avoid all the pain to begin with, and keep your bag from becoming a heavy load.
WEB INFO:
Dr. Matthew Cooper
Florida Chiropractic Sports Rehab Center
20754 W. Dixie Highway
North Miami Beach, FL 33180
305-935-9599