You’re probably aware of the big things you do that affect your posture (such as as how you sit at the computer or while watching TV), but you may not think about the little things.

If you practice good posture while sitting and standing and your back is still stiff and sore, your wallet may be to blame.

Your wallet fits just perfectly in your back pocket, and men are taught from a young age to keep it there. Can it really be that harmful?

The short answer is: Yes. Sitting on your wallet in the car or at work causes poor posture and puts unnecessary strain on your back, which can lead to pain in your back, shoulders and neck.

While a smaller, thinner wallet may do less damage, sitting on a wallet of any size in your back pocket causes your pelvis to tilt to one side, putting stress on your spine. If you’re sitting on your wallet, you’re rounding your lower back, which will cause stiffness, at the least. When your spine becomes misaligned, your shoulders will slump.

Bad posture cause by your wallet can make your back tight and achy, but it can also lead to sciatica If the sciatic nerve gets pinched between the wallet and your hip, you may experience sciatic nerve pain, or sciatica, which can cause aches and tingling all the way down your leg.

To reduce the stress on your lower back, purchase a smaller, thinner wallet that only holds the essentials, or try a money clip. The healthiest way to eliminate back, neck and shoulder pain caused by your wallet is to pull it out of your back pocket or move it to the front pocket before sitting down.

Making small changes to correct your posture — like taking your wallet out of your back pocket before sitting down — can go a long way in preventing back pain and potentially more serious problems. If you suffer from persistent back pain, contact Dr. Kushwaha today for a consultation.