Achy, breaky backs
Students’ heavy backpacks contribute to painful problems
For Cat McCauley and numerous other students all over the world, words really can hurt.
Backpacks full of heavy textbooks have been a source of strained backs for years, according to the American Chiropractic Association.
On Jan. 5, the second day of the new semester, McCauley, a sophomore from Denison, Texas, was doing the same thing as hundreds of other BYU‑Idaho students — buying the required books for her new classes from the bookstore.
It was at about 11 in the morning when I got all my books,
McCauley said. I had 10 books I had to stuff into my backpack until I could barely zip it.
Since McCauley didn’t have time to drop her books off at home, she carried them to her next class.
With all those books, I could hardly breathe without crying it hurt so bad. It was a bad day,
McCauley said.
That night, McCauley applied a heating pad to her back and alternated it with ice to help ease the pain, which lasted several days.
McCauley’s story isn’t all that uncommon, though.
Dr. Scott White, a chiropractor in Rexburg, said his clinic alone treats two to three backpack related injuries each month.
Nationwide in 2005, there were over 11,000 emergency room situations associated with backpacks that were too heavy,
White said.
The thing about backpacks is they’re designed to carry a load. When you go beyond a certain weight, it causes strain on your spine and back,
White said. You might not injure it right away, but after a period of months it can cause problems.
Since heavy textbooks are still the norm for most students, there are some precautions and tips given by the ACA and White on how to prevent back injuries associated with heavy backpacks.
First, backpacks shouldn’t weigh more than 15 percent of the body weight of the wearer, White said. Heavy backpacks will cause [the wearer] to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps,
according to the ACA.
Next, the backpack should ride at or above the belt line,
White said.
Both shoulder straps of the backpack should always be worn. According to the ACA, lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as lower back pain.
The shoulder straps should be wide to distribute the weight of the backpack.They should also be padded to prevent them from digging into shoulders. It is also important that they are adjustable because straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain,
according to ACA.
This backpack problem has become so widespread in some places that White said laws have been enacted in California and New Jersey that restrict the amount of weight students can carry in their backpacks.
The California bill, which was believed to be the first of its kind, set a maximum weight for textbooks students were allowed to carry. However, the bill only applies to elementary and middle school-age students.
White’s final word of advice on preventing injuries was to visit a doctor or chiropractic clinic in the event of an injury.
People are concerned about things like their teeth and eyes, but they seem to ignore their spine and back,
he said. If left unchecked, the problems could get a lot worse.
