It’s a habit all of us have done before at one point or another. Some do it more often than others. The important thing is to stop doing it today. What are we walking about? We’re talking about keeping bulky objects, such as phones or wallets in your back pocket. These objects will cause your seating position to shift over time and may end up causing a shift in your lower back and spine. This is not ideal as we’re always looking for the closest point to symmetry when it comes to matters of the neck, back, and spine. While we understand there’s never going to be one-hundred percent symmetry across the human back, the phone or wallet in your back pocket will ultimately only cause matters to become worse over time. Read on to learn more about how a wallet or phone in your back pocket may cause issues and how you can properly address the issue, head on.
A Wallet or Phone Can Shift Your Seated Posture
As mentioned above, a wallet or phone in your back pocket can very well shift your standard seated position over time. This may cause pain directly in your buttocks area, radiating pain down your sciatic nerve, or even pain throughout your back. The reasoning behind this is the fact the lower back, spine, and neck are all connected in one way or another. When something is throwing off the natural positioning your body is accustomed to, you run the risk of developing problems over time. You may notice this occurrence when you’ve been seated for multiple hours at your desk with your wallet or phone in your back pocket. The stiffness and uncomfortable feeling you may develop is not good. If this easy-to-resolve problem is not addressed appropriately, you may end up causing severe symptoms to arise over time.
Over Time, This May Lead to Spine, Neck, and Back Problems
You’ll want to keep your spine, neck, and back in the ebay shape possible. As we age, we’re prone to becoming more vulnerable to injuries in these sensitive areas. If you’re a younger, healthy adult, you’ll want to stop carrying your wallet or phone in your back pocket. It’s a bad habit and it will most likely only make things worse for your lower back health, spine health, and overall physical health in those areas of the body.
How You Sit is Extremely Important to Your Spine Health
Sitting posture is extremely important for our overall well being. Many people have desk jobs nowadays and with this comes prolonged periods of sitting. If you must sit for long periods of time, it’s best to do it the right way. This means removing your phone or wallet from your pocket and placing it on the desk instead. You’ll also want to be sure you have a supportive office chair to help with your seated posture.
Have You Kept a Wallet Or Phone in Your Back Pocket for Years?
If so, it’s never too late to make a change! Be the change you want to see and begin removing your phone or wallet from your pockets when seated for extended periods of time. You’ll notice a difference in how you feel while seated and you may improve problem areas you’ve been noticing for years.
Physical Therapy from Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants
We’ve had many patients request our physical therapy services for aches or pains which have bothered them for multiple years. If you’ve been experiencing ongoing paint or many years now, you’ll want to explore how we can help with our excellent physical therapy services; all completed in-house in our San Antonio location.
Contact Us at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants to Evaluate Your Spine Health, Today!
If you’re seeking relief from any type of back pain, spinal pain, or neck pain; you’ll want to contact us today. We’ll be sure to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon and helping you regain your health once again.
DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
FAQs
Not only can keeping your wallet in your back pocket lead to back pain, it can cause permanent damage to your spine and cause severe symptoms to develop over time.
Why is it bad to have a wallet in your back pocket? ›
But even though most men do this, it is not a good thing! A wallet in your back pocket hurts your posture and can cause back, neck and shoulder pain. This is because a wallet in the back pocket causes uneven pressure on the spine. When sitting, the pelvic and the hips are the foundation for the rest of the upper body.
Why shouldn't you put your phone in your back pocket? ›
As mentioned above, a wallet or phone in your back pocket can very well shift your standard seated position over time. This may cause pain directly in your buttocks area, radiating pain down your sciatic nerve, or even pain throughout your back.
Why shouldn't I keep my phone in my pocket? ›
Avoid carrying your phone in your pocket, on your belt, or anywhere close to your body since cell phones emit radiation even when they are not in use. Limit your cell phone use in rural areas or in any place where reception is poor. More radiation is emitted when you are farther from a cell phone tower.
Why you should never leave your cell phone in your pocket? ›
Rob Brown, a radiologist and vice president of scientific research and clinical affairs at Environmental Health Trust, tells Yahoo Life. “When your phone is in your pocket, you're exposed to much more radiation than from the Wi-Fi router across the room or the cellphone tower across the street.”
Where is the safest place to keep your wallet? ›
When figuring out where to keep your wallet, the age-old debate of opting for the front or back pocket often arises. This choice isn't just about comfort or style, but also about security and health. Overall, it's safer to keep your wallet in your front pocket.
Can wallet in back pocket cause sciatica? ›
When we sit with a wallet in our back pocket, we are effectively sitting with a slight tilt of the pelvis. The wallet creates an imbalance in the weight distribution in the pelvis and in the long term causes repeated stress to the piriformis muscle (leading to spasms) and sciatic nerve compression.
Is having your phone in your pocket bad for your health? ›
Cell phones emit low levels of radio frequency energy, a type of non-ionizing radiation. The available scientific data on exposure to radio frequency energy show no categorical proof of any adverse biological effects other than tissue heating.
What are the side effects of keeping your phone in your pocket? ›
Carrying a mobile phone in a shirt pocket might not be the safest option for several reasons: 1. **Radiation Exposure:** Some studies suggest that keeping a mobile phone close to the body, such as in a shirt pocket, could potentially expose you to higher levels of radiation.
Why men should not put phone in pocket? ›
Smartphone use and male health
Many studies have shown this conclusively. Human spermatozoa exposed to abnormal amounts of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones exhibit an impaired ability to move, slight deformities, more oxidative stress than usual and even lower population counts overall.
To help keep your phone safe from pickpockets, carry it in your front pocket, not your back one – or even better, use something to attach it to you physically, like a lanyard or a crossbody phone strap.
Where should you not keep your phone? ›
Keep the phone off your body.
Carry your phone in a purse or bag with the antenna (back of the phone) pointed away from you, not in your pocket or bra. When you're talking on it (with a headset or on speakerphone) put it on a table in front of you. Just a few inches can substantially reduce your radiation exposure.
What happens when you sleep with your phone next to your head? ›
Scientific research has shown that prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation can damage the Blood-brain barrier, causing albumin leakage in the brain. Even the brain's blood glucose activity is accelerated by the phone's wireless waves.
Why you should not sleep next to your cell phone? ›
Sleeping with your phone beside your bed may stimulate your brain while trying to sleep, especially if you get late-night notifications. Although your phone emits low levels of non-ionizing radiation, you may want to avoid sleeping with your phone next to your bed to decrease your exposure to RF energy.
Are cell phones bad for your health? ›
Intensive international research has found no conclusive or convincing evidence that mobile phones are damaging to health in the short or long term.
Does keeping a phone in the pocket affect sperm? ›
Given the close proximity of the cell phone and your body, this energy may be absorbed by your genitals. As a result, the sperm cells may change shape and lose their ability to attach themselves to an egg. The structural abnormality may impede the sperm's ability to swim and thus reduce motility.
Why shouldn't you carry anything in your pockets? ›
Carrying heavy items in your pockets isn't just uncomfortable; it can actually be harmful over time. Weighted pockets can pull on your clothing unevenly, which shifts your posture and alignment, potentially leading to chronic back and hip pain.
What pocket should your wallet be in? ›
Keeping your leather wallet in your front pocket helps to significantly minimize the chances of falling victim to pickpocketing because your body naturally creates a physical obstruction that makes it more challenging for pickpockets to reach the wallet unnoticed.
Why do people put condoms in their wallet? ›
Some people carry condoms in their wallet so they're prepared in case they have sex. But that isn't the best place for them. Over time, the condom material can wear down, making it weaker and more likely to break.
Do men put their wallet in their back pocket? ›
Where do most guys put their wallets? That's right — in their back pocket. Whether they wear jeans, dress pants, or shorts with pockets … that's the natural spot for any wallet.
