This simple switch can ease back pain — as long as you’re prepared to feel like a ‘loser’

Some women have shared investing in a good quality backpack has been a ‘game changer’ (Picture: Getty Images) It’s a milestone I’ll never forget: the Christmas when I asked for a Le Creuset mug, rather than a new lip gloss. Don’t get me wrong — I have no clue how my boiler works, but when I take a sip out of that £22 mug, I feel like a woman. And for TikToker, Chantelle Louise, another significant moment in a young woman’s life, is the day she ditches a chic shoulder bag, and opts for a practical backpack instead. While a shoulder bag may be stylish, back problems are not — just ask the 73% of Brits who’re struggling with back pain on a daily basis. In fact, Chantelle dubbed it ‘the highest form of self-respect that a woman can have for herself.’ With dozens of women in the comment section agreeing that this difficult yet necessary switch was a total ‘game changer’, is it time we collectively agreed to ditch our totes? While Chantelle recently told her TikTok followers she’s not quite ‘there yet’, she’s preparing to make the leap. ‘It’s 8:00am and my bag is literally filled to the brim,’ she shared. ‘I’m in so much pain, but at this point I’m purely optimising aesthetics over spinal alignment,’ she shared. Is switching to a backpack the smart choice? Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. In 2024, the British Chiropractic Association conducted a study to try and assess just how badly back pain was impacting Brits. The findings revealed that almost a quarter (22%) of British people have taken up to five months off work due to their bone and joint pain On top of this, over half (52%) of British people have lived with bone and joint pain for longer than 12 months. Could backpacks be the answer to our back issues? (Picture: Getty Images) Chiropractor Andrew Nurcombe-Thorne, says switching from a shoulder bag to a backpack is ‘better’ for your spine. Although he warns: ‘It’s not automatically a cure all option.’ The expert tells Metro: ‘Using a bag with a single shoulder strap can cause the shoulder on that side to elevate and it may also cause you to unconsciously laterally flex (side bend) the upper body away from that side.’ While doing this for short period of time, such as five or 10 minutes once or twice a day, shouldn’t be too problematic, if you’re doing it regularly for an hour or so, this can lead to ‘muscular fatigue and discomfort’. Andrew emphasises that this is particularly relevant for anyone whose bag weighs more than 10% of their body weight. Carrying a heavy shoulder bag around could also prompt tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arm due to nerve compression. If you do decide to make the switch to a backpack, Andrew says you should make sure to always keep the straps ‘well fitted and the weight of the pack as close to your spine as possible’. If you don’t, the uneven distribution could similarly lead to muscle strain and spinal alignment problems. Fashion over function? It seems the only reason we’re not switching to the backpack life, is because it’s a bit, well, uncool. When we asked Metro readers for their thoughts, Jessica Corrigan, 27, admitted she feels like ‘a little loser’ when wearing one. ‘It also gives me some nasty flashbacks from lugging one around at school,’ she adds. Bethan Sandall, 26, feels similarly: ‘Wearing one to work would make me feel like I’m back at school.’ Could the solution be having both? (Picture: Getty Images) Some users on TikTok were more savage. Commenter @GBTSXO shared that she thinks wearing a backpack can ‘ruin an outfit’ while @catracha_0, commenting on another pro-backpack video, added ‘I’m in enemy territory’. Metro’s own lifestyle reporter, Eleanor Noyce, 28, has scoliosis, meaning using a tote or shoulder bag on a daily basis has always been a no-go. ‘My main work bag is a burgundy Fjallraven Kanken,’ she tells Metro. ‘I’m fully aware of the allegations that it’s not fashionable to wear a backpack, but I’m not bothered by these claims. ‘It’s so much better for my back, and is a good way to flash the cute keychain I got when I was in Japan. Long may it continue.’ It may be loser-ish, but when you can still stand up straight in 10 years, you’ll be the one that’s winning. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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