Listen up, fashion-forward bag lovers. That crick in your neck might not be caused by tension headaches or stressing that your new jeans may not be in style tomorrow.
Many of today’s popular bags and purses can wreak havoc on the carrier’s back, shoulders, neck and hips, according to Dr. Richard Whitney of Whitney Chiropractors in Naperville, Ill. He sees problems ranging from numb arms to mild scoliosis caused by bags that are too heavy or simply unhealthy for the body. “They don’t realize the problems that repetitive use can cause,” Whitney says.
Here are his analyses of the most popular bags on the streets.

The business-friendly pull tote
The bag on wheels seems like the best bet for back relief, but pulling it curves the spine toward the opposite hip. The muscles in the left lower back stretch out of place while the right side of the back contracts painfully. The weight of the tote also causes numbness and tingling in the right shoulder and arm.
Too much toting can eventually cause mild scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

The low-slung skater bag
This too-cool-for-school look puts pressure on the lower back and hips as the bag pulls the shoulders back and compresses the lower vertebrae.
Ouch! Continued pressure on the lower back will cause pain that can spread down the legs and create muscle stiffness throughout the entire back.

The seriously overloaded shoulder bag
Filled with three cell phones, one iPod and one teacup poodle, the oversized shoulder bag can strain neck muscles and vertebrae and puts pressure on the arm and shoulder. Bags heavier than 10% of the wearer’s body weight can create numbness and tingling down the arm, and rotator cuff trouble at the shoulder.
Those who carry their lives in a handbag may experience severe neck problems and frozen shoulders in the future.

The messenger bag
The diagonal strap of the popular messenger bag puts pressure on the shoulder that it lies across, creating tension and muscle spasms. Pulling the shoulder downwards creates a curvature in the spine toward one hip, straining muscles in the lower and mid back.
The messenger bag can cause mild scoliosis, a chronic curvature of the spine, if used regularly over several years, especially by trendy teens whose style smarts can cause lasting damage to their backs.