Chiropractors have confirmed what fashion lovers had already guessed: your favorite oversized handbag is bad for your health. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress says these popular purses may be convenient, but carrying them creates a postural imbalance, which may have dire consequences for the spinal discs, body structures, and nervous system.
“I have had patients complain about shoulder pain and lower back pain,” explained Gerard W. Clum, D.C., president of Life Chiropractic College in West Hayward, Calif., and spokesperson for the Foundation. “When I ask the patients to show me the size and the weight of their handbags, it can be in excess of 10 to 15 lbs., which can cause serious risk to your overall health.”
So what’s a girl to do when she needs to carry her wallet, house and car keys, iPod, cell phone, PDA, and digital camera on an average outing? Well, the good news is that we don’t have to abandon our oversized purses altogether. We should just buy smarter.
Dr. Clum suggests handbags should weigh no more than one or two pounds. He also urges against taking the bag’s weight on one shoulder. Instead he encourages women to tote purses with two shoulder straps, or to pull a carry case.
“Heavy, cumbersome bags may leave you with back, neck, and shoulder pain, even headaches and can aggravate or accelerate arthritic conditions,” he cautions. “It’s important to find ways to stay healthy while staying in fashion.“
