Travellers who drag suitcases behind them through airports may be putting unnecessary strain on their bodies, according to experts, who recommend pushing four-wheeled spinner cases at your side instead.
US-based physical therapist Lori Diamos said pushing a spinner suitcase is kinder to your joints and helps maintain a more natural posture. She explained that pushing keeps the elbow bent and the wrist in a neutral position, reducing stress on the arm and shoulder.
Diamos said the technique also lets travelers switch hands more easily or use both hands, spreading the load instead of overworking one side of the body. Pulling a suitcase, by contrast, forces the arm to extend behind the body, creating a twisting motion through the spine that can become uncomfortable over long distances.
"Pushing is better for your joints," Diamos told Travel + Leisure. "When you push a spinner beside you, your elbow stays bent, your grip stays neutral, and you can switch hands or even use both, which spreads the load rather than stressing one arm over and over."
Diamos added that pulling a two-wheeled bag keeps the arm extended behind the body and creates a rotational force through the spine that adds up over a long airport walk.
Back and shoulder strain
Health experts have also warned that pulling a suitcase behind you can contribute to aches in the back, neck and shoulders, especially when rushing through large airports.
The Bone & Joint Center said in a blog post that four spinner wheels let travelers push a case with a relaxed arm, requiring less muscle power and placing less stress on the upper body. It said a heavy, two-wheeled bag may strain the shoulder and neck of frequent travelers walking long distances between terminals, and that pulling a weight with the arm extended behind the body can become uncomfortable.
Other research has found that luggage designed primarily to be pulled places greater stress on the pulling arm and encourages awkward body positions. A study published in 2024 concluded that once a suitcase weighs more than about 20 percent of a person's body weight, pushing it becomes more energy efficient than pulling it. For a person weighing 70 kilograms, that means pushing once the suitcase reaches 14 kilograms or more.
Exceptions to the rule
Experts say two-wheeled suitcases are often better suited to rough surfaces such as cobblestones, gravel or curbs, because their larger fixed wheels are more stable. Spinner cases perform best on smooth floors typically found in airports, hotels and railway stations.
Travelers are also advised to avoid overpacking, since heavier bags place greater strain on muscles and joints regardless of how they are wheeled. Packing heavier items near the wheels can improve balance, and adjusting the handle to a comfortable height can help prevent hunching or reaching while walking.
