Images show impact dragging a suitcase has on your body as health experts advise alternative

If you're currently looking at your suitcase in the corner of your room and know you're going to have to pack it, carry it and board it on a trip somewhere this summer, you're going to need to think of an alternative way to transport it.

That's because dragging it behind you is now off the table, according to experts.

Long have we struggled to hoist the 20kg load through airports, on trains, or (heavens forbid) down the steps to the underground.

However, experts have since come out to reveal there's an easier way to carry your case, and it doesn't involve making grunting sounds as you two-hand the handle and dig your heels into the floor for better grip.

While it might not work for every case, it does work for the vast majority.

So, if you're soon to be travelling – read on.

Going on holiday? Think harder about your case (Getty Stock Images)

According to physical therapist Lori Diamos, pushing your suitcase beside you, is a much better solution to dragging it behind.

This is because your elbow remains bent, as your wrist stays in a neutral position, which lessens the strain on your shoulder.

When pulling a case from behind, she told Travel + Leisure, it forces your arm to extend in that direction, which then twists your spine and can lead to discomfort.

But when you're using her method where you push the case from your side, it's a gentler approach.

She warned: "Pulling a two–wheeled bag keeps your arm extended behind you and creates a rotational force through your spine that adds up quickly over a long airport walk."

She said: "Pushing is better for your joints. 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."

A 2024 study also found this to be the case with dragging heavy items.

The impact on your body has been studied (Li et al/ Gait & Posture)

But don't just take her word for it.

Research has also found that dragging cases aren't great for you, too.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 85,000 people were treated in emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, or clinics for injuries related to luggage in 2017 alone.

Dr Charla Fischer, spine surgeon at NYU Langone’s Spine Center, also previously explained to the New York Post that excess weight puts pressure on spinal discs, causing injuries, muscle strain, and sometimes chronic pain in travellers.

She also claimed the posture problems it puts your body into by having your arm lugged behind you is 'a recipe for disaster when it comes to posture and back health.'

However, experts say there are exceptions.

Spinner cases with four wheels are best suited for smooth floors, like tile or wood, whereas two-wheeled suitcases are often better for the outdoors such as cobblestones, gravel or rough areas.

So, ensuring you're taking the right case is also something to be aware of as you could be setting yourself up for failure.

Dragging a two-wheeler behind you on an airport floor might not be as good as using a spinner beside you.