Handbags a health hazard, women warned

[Megs]

Celine Croc Bag

Many will brush it off that fashion can be uncomfortable but it is true. How many of you carry band-aids with you to break in new shoes? How many of you cringe at that tight but oh-so-sexy dress in the closet for the perfect occasion? And how many of you have every carried an overly heavy handbag. First hand I know my bag has been too heavy before. Poor Vlad. While touring Paris, my Chloe Paddington Tote was so heavy I forced Vlad to attempt to help me carry it while still looking like he wasn't. I thought it was sly, but it was totally visible to everyone else. We were holding hands while holding the bag in our hands; rather he was holding and I was vehemently trying to look like I was holding too while I was sighing with relief. So what is the verdict- can a handbag really be a health hazard? You would be surprised. Make sure to add your thoughts on the forum or in the comments!

TORONTO - With big handbags becoming a key fashion accessory for working women, health experts are warning they can also become a key health concern.

Bags for women have become bigger and heavier as designers combine briefcases with handbags and straps have become longer but the extra leverage has many patients complaining of neck, shoulder and back problems.

"I see so many women with neck pains and headaches and what I usually do is look for their purse and pick it up," said Jane Sadler, a family practice physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas.

"We take it over to the scale and weigh it and usually they're anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds (3.1-4.5 kgs)...We're really going to see women with more and more problems later on if we continue the big purse craze."

William Case, a physical therapist in private practice in Houston, Texas, said an aggravated neck or shoulder can lead to upper back problems, meaning pain may then be felt while working at a computer or playing sports.

He urged designers "to place a cute, educational caution tag on all bags to inform of potential neck and shoulder dangers."

Above all, he recommended correct posture while carrying bulky purses, keeping the head and shoulders aligned upright. Patients should also frequently change the size and weight of purses carried.

"The extra-large purses are quite phenomenal. They look beautiful when the women wear them, but I don't know how aware they are of the potential problems," Case said.

"Massage, anti-inflammatories and rest are good to help alleviate the symptoms temporarily however the only real cure is patient education," case added in a written message to the American Physical Therapy Association.

Case said children were recommended to carry no more than 10-15 percent of their body weight in backpacks, which are effective at spreading loads carried, but fashion consultants say they just aren't cool any more.

"The trend is either very large or very small. People go to the gym, they have an extra pair of shoes, they have their make-up, so there's more stuff to carry around," said Ellen Campuzano, president of the Committee for Color and Trend, a fashion forecasting service.

"The backpack is really for a very casual customer, for a student with books, that is not a fashion customer."

Professor Alan Hedge, an ergonomics specialist at Cornell University in New York state, said similar health problems arose when laptops were first introduced.

Traditionally women adopted better postures for carrying loads, such as baskets on heads or strapping a papoose across the back, but placing objects on one shoulder was one of the least efficient ways of carrying a load.

"This causes a great imbalance. You only have to see people carrying bags in shopping centers, looking hunched up like Quasimodo," he said.

"If it (a big bag) is a fashion accessory, then occasional and symbolic use is fine. If not, then keep it light."

Source

[Megs]

Personally I can attest to this, my mom really hurt her shoulder (it was already strained) but put it over the top by carrying a heavy bag around NYC for a week.

I know my bag feels pretty heavy sometimes, but that is just what I carry... I probably carry too much around with me

[ccgoddess]

That's why I love to carry small bags. I adored the mini craze. The price is less, pounds are less and you feel great without a strain.

[chloehandbags]

I try to avoid heavy bags. My tiger bag is 18" across, but luckily, due to the only hardware being two zips (one to close the bag and one on the internal pocket), it's light as a feather.

I love clutches and I sometimes fall in love with ones with copious amounts of beautiful hardware, which is OK, as how heavy can a small clutch get? But, I try to only buy larger bags with lightweight embellishments, like appliqué and those that keep hardware to a minimum.

Also, when I carry a big bag, I try not to over stuff it, or let things build up in there too much, not only to keep the weight down, but to maintain the bag's shape and to avoid damaging it.

As I mentioned on another thread on this subject, I think backpacks are actually on their way back (again, no pun intended! ) into fashion; Prada have one in their S/S advertising campaign.

[JoeyJo21]

I've heard these warnings for years about school backpacks, but never handbags! I know what you mean about the Chloe Paddington though, it's a beautiful bag and I was about to buy it in Selfridges last year but then I picked it up and realised how heavy it was.... I thought with all my junk inside that it would have weighed a tonne!

[ellewoods]

Ahh I can so relate!

[Danica]

My friend recently spent some time in an ambulance, She had some pretty intense pain in her arm and shoulder. She is a photographer and totes around her heavy camera bag every day, on the same shoulder. I can attest to how heavy those things are, its uncomfortable and like a workout.
Clearly most bags will be much lighter, but it may be a good idea to switch shoulders anyways to avoid stress.

[Marly]

OMG!! That Celine Croc bag is incredible! I wonder what the $$ is on that. Anyone know? If I won the lottery, I would snatch that up! Of course, I would also have an assistant to carry it for me. And it would have to be a big body builder.

I remember the pain I used to have on one shoulder all the time, and that was when my kids were little and I carried them around on my right hip, also slinging a diaper bag that had a whole days worth of baby supplies. I ached on my right side every day. I do not care for ultra heavy or large bags (on me) I don't think the long term pains are worth it, as beautiful as the bag may be.

[eddavhhr]

Originally Posted by Megs

Poor Vlad. While touring Paris, my Chloe Paddington Tote was so heavy I forced Vlad to attempt to help me carry it while still looking like he wasn't. I thought it was sly, but it was totally visible to everyone else. We were holding hands while holding the bag in our hands; rather he was holding and I was vehemently trying to look like I was holding too while I was sighing with relief.

Picturing this is cracking me up!! What we do for love, eh, Vlad?! Anyway, I have a very bad back and am not supposed to carry a heavy purse, but, well, I just can't help it. I NEED all of my stuff. I've tried to cut back and just ended up with an extra bag, which is not really cute. I do limit the size of my bag to approx. a medium Paddy satchel, though; b/c I will fill whatever I have to maximum capacity.

[Everevereve]

So true!!! Even my dad think my bags are getting too heavy...

[nextnewface]

Balenciaga is the answer to this... even as you go up in size, it still weighs so little !!

[beth001]

That Croc bag is bigger than a suitcase! You couldn't even get it on a plane as a carry-on. Beautiful, but quite impractical. As is the Chloe Paddington. I tried. It was just too heavy for me to carry around everyday. *sigh* The one that shows up when I post here? For sale on ebay. Oh well. I wish I could carry it without getting pains in my wrist and arm. I've drooled over that Paddington tote bag. I think its the prettiest purse I've ever seen in my life! But, I'd need a servant to accompany me to work and the grocery store. I agree, the answer is Balenciaga. If you're a girl (like me) who has to haul around a lot of STUFF.

[The Snorks]

I believe it! My cross-shoulder bag that I use for work at one point weighed 15 pounds because of all of the work I was carrying home. I would often take the train to work, and carry this bag on one shoulder. I eventually developed plantar fascitis (sp?) on one foot because of the excess weight and my shoes (ballet flats) not having arch support.

[lucidbabe]

Originally Posted by Megs

Celine Croc Bag "I see so many women with neck pains and headaches and what I usually do is look for their purse and pick it up," said Jane Sadler, a family practice physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas. Source

Yup, my gynae, bless him, is on to the trend. When he told me I had to be on bedrest at 5 mths pregnancy, I protested... and he walked over from his chair and weighed up my YSL Moombasa (FULL and probly 7 lbs) with his hands and told me that "that has to go if you want me to let you walk out of his office"

[cassidyfit1]

I hear you ! The new Chanel Modern Chain Tote is very heavy even EMPTY !