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Don’t Start the New Year With Luggage Injuries

Husband and wife at the airport looking out large glass window happily

Holiday travel can mean long lines and hurried sprints through sprawling terminals. It also can mean neck, wrist, back and shoulder pain, and even injury, from carrying and lifting heavy luggage.

In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were more than 85,000 luggage-related injuries in 2017.

“Hurting your neck, back, or shoulders can put you out of commission for a long time,” said AAOS spokesperson and orthopaedic spine surgeon Charla Fischer, MD. “You can prevent that by packing lightly, using sturdy luggage with wheels and handles, and using good form when carrying or lifting bags.”

To avoid luggage-related injury and pain, AAOS offers the following safety tips:

  • When purchasing new luggage, look for a sturdy, light piece with wheels and a handle.
  • Pack lightly. When possible, pack items in a few smaller bags instead of one large luggage piece. Many airlines restrict carry-on luggage weighing more than 40 pounds.
  • When lifting luggage onto a platform or into a car trunk, stand alongside of it, bend at your knees, not your waist, lift with your leg muscles, then grasp the handle and straighten up. Once you have lifted your luggage, hold it close to your body.
  • When placing luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat. Then, place your hands on the left and right sides of the suitcase and lift it up. If your luggage has wheels, make sure the wheel-side is set in the compartment first. Once wheels are inside, put one hand atop the luggage and push it to the back of the compartment.
  • Do not twist your body when lifting and carrying luggage. Instead, point your toes in the direction you are headed, and then turn your entire body in that direction.
  • Do not rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase. If it is too heavy or an awkward shape, get help.
  • Do not carry heavier pieces of luggage for long periods of time. If it is too heavy, make sure to check luggage when traveling rather than carrying it on a plane, train or bus.
  • If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps. Choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder does not allow weight to be distributed evenly, which can cause muscle strain.
  • Carry—don’t drag—your luggage when climbing the stairs. Better yet, take the elevator.

Source: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Visit the AAOS OrthoInfo (www.orthoinfo.org)

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