Students are carrying backpacks that are too heavy and can possibly be damaging to their backs, said Dr. Judith L. Conley, D.C of the Chiro-Health LLC in Johnson City.
Carrying backpacks that are too heavy can cause postural distortions, she said.
People, especially children, come into Conley’s office complaining of back pain. Much of this is due to carrying heavy backpacks.
It can also cause pain in people’s arms by compressing nerves.
According to a survey done by Airpacks Inc., many students today are carrying 25-40 pounds on their backs, even though most pediatricians recommend that people not carry more than 10-15 percent of their body weight. This can lead to potential health problems later such as chronic back and neck pain.
Some students deal with the issues of heavy backpacks on a daily basis.
“Because of the degree of heaviness of the books that I have to purchase for my classes, the weight of my backpack is extremely heavy on an everyday basis,” said Sheena Testerman, a sophomore.
Conley suggests that students attempt to carry a lighter backpack by possibly leaving the books at home and making copies.
Some students feel that books are not necessary either. “I like to take just one notebook with me to all my classes during the day,” said Angie Molla, freshman, “Then I transfer those pages into different notebooks for each class. This way I don’t have to carry around extra notebooks which make my load heavier.”
A 1999 news release by the American Physical Therapy Association gives some tips to students on how to protect their backs and prevent damage to joints and muscles.
They suggest that students wear both straps. Simply slinging the bag over one shoulder can cause students to lean to one side and curve the spine because of the uneven distribution of the weight.
Secondly, students should make sure the bag is not too heavy. Only carry what is absolutely necessary, and try to find a way to lighten the load.
Lastly, students should pay careful attention to the type of bag that they get.
Conley said that the type of backpack a student carries can play a large role also.
Wide straps will cause much less damage and offer more support than narrow straps. Also, it is best to avoid bags that have one strap which runs across the chest.
There are a variety of backpacks available that students can buy that will offer more support to their back, neck and shoulders.
These include backpacks with what is called an air bladder placed at the lower back in order to place more support in that area.
Conley said that students should also try to get a backpack with lots of padding at the shoulders.
There are also backpacks that roll or even have a rack inside them that allow students to slide their books in the rack instead of piling them up at the bottom of the bag, and more evenly distributing the weight of the bag.
Michael Carter, a junior, has a principle that he feels would solve all problems. “Books are overrated, just take notes,” he said.

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