The Big Bag Bug
Mar 22 2008 By Samantha Booth
Celebs Can’t Resist Sporting Huge Handbags Despite The Back Damage
GIRLS Aloud star Sarah Harding has been moaning about a bad back and reckons it is all down to the fashion for oversized handbags.
However the singer, who attended the Capital Awards for Help A London Child, is not the only star to pick up on the massive handbag trend.
Stars such Eva Longoria, Coleen McLoughlin, Victoria Beckham and Alex Curran have all been spotted out dragging around handbags that look like they weigh almost as much as the fashion divas themselves.
Sarah’s band mate Chreyl Cole has also been seen wrestling with a suitcase-sized handbag and Hollywood star Hilary Duff has been caught on camera carrying a bag so large, she is almost bent double in an a attempt to bear its weight.
Katie Holmes has even been seen with a handbag so big she could almost fit husband Tom Cruise inside it.
But are followers of fashion putting their health at risk for the sake of looking stylish? Chiropractor Emma Gillett is not surprised that Sarah is suffering from a bad back and she warned that continually carrying a large handbag could easily cause serious problems.
She said: “I am certain that Sarah must be getting back pains if she is regularly carrying a large bag.
“The problem is, a large heavy handbag is generally going to be carried on the one shoulder which can cause problems like repetitive strain injury.
“Having that kind of weight always on one shoulder is an ergonomic disaster for the body.
“Carrying weights on one side of the body like that places tension on all the muscles round the neck, shoulder blade, cavical and arm.
“This pain can travel into the back and can even cause problems with nerves and blood vessels.
“If women are carrying these bags about they will know they are causing problems if they have a recurring pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back, elbow or wrist.
“They might also experience a tingling sensation or numbness and because of the strain in those areas, they might begin to get a loss of grip or strength in the arm.
“The muscles might also feel hard and knotted as well.
“The pain might even start to trouble you when you are sitting down and if it goes on long enough, these can become long term problems and can be difficult to treat.
“I really am a fashion-conscious chiropractor, but I do think women have to rethink these bags.
“My advice would be to get a bag you carry in your hand like a clutch bag and if you really can’t resist an over-sized bag, then buy one that looks really good empty and use it carry around nothing other than your mobile, lipstick and credit card.
“The only good thing about them from a chiropractor’s point of view is that they will only be in fashion for a while and the trend for mini handbags or rucksacks will eventually return.”
Mar 22 2008 By Samantha Booth
Celebs Can’t Resist Sporting Huge Handbags Despite The Back Damage
GIRLS Aloud star Sarah Harding has been moaning about a bad back and reckons it is all down to the fashion for oversized handbags.
However the singer, who attended the Capital Awards for Help A London Child, is not the only star to pick up on the massive handbag trend.
Stars such Eva Longoria, Coleen McLoughlin, Victoria Beckham and Alex Curran have all been spotted out dragging around handbags that look like they weigh almost as much as the fashion divas themselves.
Sarah’s band mate Chreyl Cole has also been seen wrestling with a suitcase-sized handbag and Hollywood star Hilary Duff has been caught on camera carrying a bag so large, she is almost bent double in an a attempt to bear its weight.
Katie Holmes has even been seen with a handbag so big she could almost fit husband Tom Cruise inside it.
But are followers of fashion putting their health at risk for the sake of looking stylish? Chiropractor Emma Gillett is not surprised that Sarah is suffering from a bad back and she warned that continually carrying a large handbag could easily cause serious problems.
She said: “I am certain that Sarah must be getting back pains if she is regularly carrying a large bag.
“The problem is, a large heavy handbag is generally going to be carried on the one shoulder which can cause problems like repetitive strain injury.
“Having that kind of weight always on one shoulder is an ergonomic disaster for the body.
“Carrying weights on one side of the body like that places tension on all the muscles round the neck, shoulder blade, cavical and arm.
“This pain can travel into the back and can even cause problems with nerves and blood vessels.
“If women are carrying these bags about they will know they are causing problems if they have a recurring pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back, elbow or wrist.
“They might also experience a tingling sensation or numbness and because of the strain in those areas, they might begin to get a loss of grip or strength in the arm.
“The muscles might also feel hard and knotted as well.
“The pain might even start to trouble you when you are sitting down and if it goes on long enough, these can become long term problems and can be difficult to treat.
“I really am a fashion-conscious chiropractor, but I do think women have to rethink these bags.
“My advice would be to get a bag you carry in your hand like a clutch bag and if you really can’t resist an over-sized bag, then buy one that looks really good empty and use it carry around nothing other than your mobile, lipstick and credit card.
“The only good thing about them from a chiropractor’s point of view is that they will only be in fashion for a while and the trend for mini handbags or rucksacks will eventually return.”