I recently purchased a smaller and lighter backup camera setup – only because I started getting wrist and neck pains carrying my Canon EOS-1D for hours.
It got to a point where I ended up not taking pictures anymore, so I had to do something about it. I’m not saying you need to give up on your precious equipment but there are a lot of things you can do to stay in good health.
Slipped discs, muscle spasms, rotator cuff syndrome, tendinitis and carpal tunnel are just a few of the occupational hazards that can come from lugging around a heavy bag of gear and turning yourself into a human tripod for a living.
There are many photographers who don’t realize the damage they are doing until an injury. Freelance photojournalist Phyllis Dooney was on assignment in Japan on her way to catch a train when one of her ribs shifted out of place. “I had a backpack, a shoulder bag and a rollie and I had to walk a pretty long distance,” she says. “All of the sudden I felt this ice pick sensation in my back.” Her injury took nine months to heal.
Dr. Gerard Varlotta, a NYU Langone Medical Center Clinical Associate Professor and expert in rehabilitation medicine, says that many of the photographers he sees are unaware of the harm they are putting themselves in. “They are so fatigued from doing their work, which can be for long hours, that they don’t do the maintenance,” he says. “They are constantly working the long shifts and long hours and carrying equipment and they feel that they are too tired to exercise.”
CHOOSING A BAG:
There are a variety of camera bags to choose from, and picking the right bag depends as much on what you are shooting and what equipment you use as the way your body is built. According to Dr. Karen Erickson, DC many bags are just too bulky for certain body types. Here are some tips on how to pick a bag that won’t break your back.
Equilibrium is Important:
Unbalance happens easily with over the shoulder messenger bags, which is one reason Dr. Karen Erickson, DC says to avoid them, but it can happen with backpacks too. Dr. Varlotta says over the shoulder bags are okay as long as they aren’t overstuffed. He warned that photographers should avoid any bag with an asymmetrical design. Backpacks that have large compartments on only one side can be problematic.
Don’t Overload It:
Dr. Karen Erickson, DC says the American Chiropractic Association advises that people avoid carrying more than 10 percent of their body weight, which means a person weight 150 lbs. shouldn’t carry more than 15 lbs. “Truth be told most people end up carrying a lot more than that in backpacks,” she says.
Fit Matters:
According to Dr. Karen Erickson, DC the backpack should end near your ribs, with the weight being distributed between your shoulder blades. If the backpack hangs too low on your body you can put a lot of tension on your low back. Look for straps that are wide and padded. The straps should be snug enough to bring the material of the bag close to your body. A backpack with a waistband that sits on the hips can take stress off the shoulders, neck and low back.
SHOOTING TECHNIQUES:
_“The idea is to constantly be shifting the way you are using the camera.” — __Dr. Karen Erickson, DC_
The bag you lug your gear in isn’t the only thing to be wary of though, a photographer’s shooting techniques are just as likely to cause a repetitive stress injury. Dr. Karen Erickson, DC says that a single muscle group should never be constantly holding the weight of a camera.
Shooting Accessories:
Photography equipment is often bulky and heavy which can add too discomfort. Dr. Gerard Varlotta recommends using a monopod when shooting with a heavy lens to take some of the weight off your muscles. Dr. Karen Erickson, DC is a big fan of camera grips with shutter buttons that keep photographers from lifting their arm over their head when shooting vertically. “For people who have chronic shoulder injuries from photography this is a game changer,” she says.
Holding the Camera:
“The other issue is how to hold the camera so it doesn’t wreck your neck, shoulders and arms.” — Dr. Karen Erickson, DC
Wrapping the camera strap around your wrist and gripping the body with your hand can be a good alternative to hanging the camera around your neck.
Read the full article over at Popular Photography.
Source: Popular Photography
