Pain in the back
Backpack options can lead to health risks
Pyan Eloe’s backpack is stuffed with two textbooks, a lab manual, five spiral notebooks, a Bible, two 3-ring notebooks and a variety of pens and pencils.
Eloe, a sophomore economics major, said his back hurts at the end of
the day because of his heavy load.
Kristopher Schmidt, a chiropractic doctor at the Texas Spine Institute,
said an overloaded backpack could cause many problems including a crick
in the neck, tension headaches, shoulder problems and simple fatigue.
“The
biggest problem isn’t carrying the pack on the shoulder as much as
pulling it off and on throughout the day,” Schmidt said.
He said putting on or taking off a heavy backpack could cause problems ranging from a torn tendon to a pinched nerve. But the typical student doesn’t worry about these risks.
“I like to carry as much stuff as possible, and I’ll sacrifice my health for that,” Eloe said jokingly.
Certain styles of backpacks are better than others when it comes to the daily strain on the back.
It’s better to go with a two-strap book bag verses the one-shoulder style because you’re keeping the body and the back more in line by having two straps wrapped around instead of just one,” Schmidt said.
While two-strap bags are best, a one-strap bag with the strap that goes across the body is better than one that goes around one shoulder, he said.
“It’s all about how you’re distributing the weight on the body,” Schmidt said.
Justin Galbraith, a junior e-business major, uses a one-strap courier bag, but said he believes a traditional two-strap backpack is best for the average student.
“I was a bike messenger this summer and this is the kind of bag they use,” Galbraith said. “You can sling it around front without having to take it off.”
A courier bag is similar to a mailman’s bag and is worn across the body. Galbraith compared the emergence of the courier-style bags on campus to that of hiking or combat boots.
“It’s just a typical fad where somebody sees something that when it’s put to use they like the way it looks so they wear it around campus,” he said.
He said he likes his courier bag better, but admits it does hurt his back.
For Grete Brown, a sophomore psychology major, style comes after practicality.
“I would only buy a new backpack if I needed one,” she said.
Brown, who also has a one-strap bag, said it hurts to have the load
on one shoulder all the time.
Regardless of the style of bag you choose, Schmidt said to avoid back strain or injury you should reduce the amount of weight you carry.
“Just put a few books in your bag, then go back to your vehicle or dorm room at noon and load the rest up rather than trying to carry the same ones around all day,” Schmidt said.
He also said it was important to distribute the weight evenly, trying to keep the bag lower and centered on the back.
Certain exercises and stretches can be used to strengthen the back and help prevent injury. Schmidt said simple crunches could strengthen the torso and put less pressure on the back. Stretching by lying on your back and pulling your knee to your chest can also help your back, he said.
“If you can prevent the injury in the first place, that’s definitely the way to go,” Schmidt said.
Jonathan Sampson
j.m.sampson@student.tcu.edu.