Why backpacks are bad

Also, backpacks with tight, narrow straps that dig into the shoulders can cause tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands. Packs on wheels, which look like small, overhead luggage bags, may be good options for students who have to lug around really heavy loads. But they're very hard to pull up stairs and to roll through snow. Check with the school before buying a rolling pack. Many don't allow them because they can be a tripping hazard in the hallways.

Involving other parents and your child's school in solving students' backpack burdens might help to lessen kids' loads. Some ways the school can get involved include:. Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Problems Can Backpacks Cause?

Other safety issues to consider: Kids who carry large packs often aren't aware of how much space the packs take up and can hit others with their packs when turning around or moving through tight spaces, such as the aisles of a school bus. Students can be injured if they trip over large packs or a pack falls on them. Carrying a heavy pack changes the way kids walk and puts them at risk of falling, particularly on stairs or other places where a backpack puts a student off balance.

According to report about Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders from the Center for Disease Control CDC , over 20 percent of American adults suffered from lower back pain, more than 14 percent suffered from neck pain and almost 10 percent struggled with sciatica.

Considering the U. Though more than half of those who suffered said they treated their pain without going to the doctor most back pain resolves on its own , the most commonly recommended treatment offered by doctors was prescription painkillers — often opioids — by a staggering 40 percent.

Considering, over people are admitted to emergency departments for abusing prescription opioids per day according to the CDC , opioid deaths are at a staggering high. All this said, it might behoove us to try and do anything and everything we can to prevent chronic neck and back pain in the first place — starting with what we choose to tote around.

As it turns out, the kids with previous pain and heavy backpack loads suffered from disc compression in their lower backs, which can lead to painful problems down the road. Another study scanned the backs of children aged to carrying backpacks that accounted for approximately 10, 20, and 30 percent of their body weight.

Not only did the kids with heavier backpacks experience disc compression, they noticed some lumbar asymmetry, or lower back curvature. A fourth study, referenced in Science Daily , found that heavy loads carried on the back in formative years have the potential to damage the soft tissues of the shoulder, causing microstructural damage to the nerves.

Natalie Lovitz, Clinical Director of Professional Physical Therapy in New York City, says heavy or improperly worn backpacks or bags can lead to back problems and poor posture, but also shoulder problems and headaches. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving.

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