A news article on Yahoo! is causing a buzz in the bag-loving community. It claims that those currently big in the trend department, and big in the size and weight department, large bags should be used with caution - for they can cause aches and pains if overused (and overloaded).
“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.”
So now are huge purses “out”?
Above all, [William Case, a physical therapist in private practice in Houston, Texas] 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.
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.
“If it (a big bag) is a fashion accessory, then occasional and symbolic use is fine. If not, then keep it light.”
The poll we have running to the left reads that our visitors still love their bags big. Willing to reconsider? I’m not, but I suggest anyone with neck or back pains to take some advice from this article.
For a humorous approach to this piece, check out Pursed Lips.
Marc Jacobs photo source: Style.com
