Talk about low back pain and spine fractures which can be severely disabling and may result in chronic pain. And that is exactly what those supersized killer bags fashion on-the-loose are doing to a woman's body. Those supersized handbags could be as potentially dangerous to your health as upsizing your favorite fastfood value meals. The recent increase in the number of “heavy handbag related injuries” prompted chiropractors to seriously consider issuing a medical warning on the use of these huge totes.
These fashionable bags on the hot seat are not just painfully heavy, draped and bedecked with more blings than Apl.de Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, and that their capacity is so enormous there could be enough rooms for the whole vanity dresser to fit inside. These bags allow users to fill them with endless amounts of stuff that are not really necessary.
According to a recent study, women today carry twice as much in their handbags as our mothers used to do. In the good old days, our moms might have had a coin purse, a powder compact, a couple of tissues and a house key. Today's women can be seen carrying a whopping great wallet/diary/address book Filofax affair, an entire make-up bag and a bottle of water, plus great bunches of keys for the house, the office and the car. And that's before we get to all the gadgets and gizmos - MP3 players, mobile phones, laptops etc.
Social anthropologist, Kate Fox, of the Social Issues Research Center in Oxford, believes that a woman's love for large luggage is not just about fashion. It's about making an impression. “Larger women generally prefer to carry a big bag as it makes their bum look smaller in comparison. And, the fashionably petite like to emphasize their size zero status by carrying an outsize bag.”
It's okay to drag handbags the size of houses if you are a celebrity with all the bodyguards to help you carry the load once you're done showing off. “The problem with carrying a heavy bag is that while it may not cause you an injury at the time you carry it, over time it has a cumulative effect, and we're certainly seeing more instances of back pain triggered as a result,” says Tim Hutchful of the British Chiropractic Association.
Carrying a heavy bag over one shoulder can cause your body to shift stance as you hike the shoulder up, which can shorten the muscles that result in a twisted or lop-sided body position overtime. This may later on lead to serious back pain, and worse, a neck injury by stretching the nerves, or even a spine fracture.
Avoid carrying bag in the crook of your arm as it is farther away from your center of gravity, putting more strain on the body. When you hold something at arm's length, the pressure it puts on the body is five times greater than if you were carrying it close to your chest.
Whether you are a certified “fashionista,” a working mother, or a plain Jane, always remember to carry a bag that is big enough to carry only the essential stuffs that you cannot do without. “Health is wealth” is a better motto to live by, while passion for fashion can be a health menace.
