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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It's one of life's most common ailments: back pain.

"Probably over 10 to 15 percent of the whole population have back and neck pain, and maybe even more than that," Dr. Terry Collinson of Collinson Chiropractic Clinic said.

If heavy lifting is first on your list to blame, think again. Something a whole lot less sinister could be causing that pain in your neck, like your purse.

FOX21 News hit the streets to find out how much baggage people in Colorado Springs were carrying around.

We found volunteers and weighed their purses or bags.

The average bag weighed between three and five pounds, and while that may not sound like a lot, experts said it doesn't take much to cause problems.

"You lift a five pound bag of sugar, and that's heavy, and so sure those things can cause a lot of stress, and it can cause a lot of strain on a body," Collinson said.

Collinson said when lifting something the body automatically tries to balance the weight.

"If you lifted a heavy suitcase the first thing that you do would be lean over to one side," he said.

FOX21's Abbie Burke took her purse to the doctor to find out exactly what's behind the pain.

"As you look here you can definitely see that there is this slumped kind of posture," Dr. Melissa Harlow, of Peak Balance Chiropractic, said.

Harlow said the muscles try to pull the body straight, which can cause pain all the way down the back.

"You have some tug-a-war going on in that mid-back area, and then you can just imagine being unlevel and trying to level yourself out," Harlow said.

Both doctors agreed over time, overuse can lead to more than just pain. They said it can also cause curvature of the spine.

"It's that repetitive stress day after day, especially if we're putting it on our shoulder. These joints here can definitely become stressed and your muscles and everything just tense," Harlow said.

"When we start pinching the nerves, because the body mechanics are not properly doing what they're supposed to be doing, then that nerve pressure can cause pain down the arms, can cause pain in the fingers, can cause headaches," Collinson said.

And don't think if you're a guy you're off the hook.

"They carry other kinds of bags, and computers are a big problem today because everyone is carrying their computer now," Collinson said.

Harlow said she understands the need for being prepared and being fashionable, but there needs to be a balance.

"Really just focusing on the essentials, really trying to minimize what we are carrying around from day to day," she said.

But since we know you won't give up your bag here are some tips to ease your pain.

1. Distribute the weight.

"Divide the weight, and if you can make more than one trip," Collinson said.

2. Consider a smaller bag.

"The smaller the bag, the less amount of weight you're able to carry," Harlow said.

3. Choose a bag with smaller straps.

"Then you don't have the option of coming to the shoulder, and your arm muscles can kind of help out and balance the weight," Harlow said.

4. Choose a bag with a shoulder strap that goes across the body.

"It's better. It's distributing weight, you're having weight on one side and then the bag is on the other side, so it's somewhat better, but still not perfect," Collinson said.

5. Change sides.

6. Consider a back pack, but you have to use both straps!

7. Use two bags.

"If it's really essential that we carry this much, maybe splitting it in between two bags, that way we're equal and balanced from side to side," Harlow said.

8. Find a balance between fashion and function.

"With the body we're always searching for balance, I think that's what you're trying to find again that balance between you know what's fashionable and what can really cause pain and discomfort," Harlow said.

Both doctors said there isn't a magic number your purse or bag should weigh, it depends on your body how much you can handle. But both suggest keeping your "luggage" to fewer than five pounds.