Written by Stephany Mandujano, Staff Writer
From preschool to college, students have always carried backpacks that have held a multitude of materials, from folders and notebooks to abnormally thick textbooks. For all of the advantages that backpacks bring students, they also can cause problems.
With all the heavy weight that settles on the shoulders of students, many complain of aches and pains, and the culprit behind it all is none other than the many items that hide within bookbags.
Students typically carry more than 15 percent of their own body weight, which can cause injury, fatigue, swelling and discomfort, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information, an organization that analyzes medical data to broaden the knowledge of genetics.
The weight of the backpacks can even begin to cause muscle tension and muscle imbalances which, if it’s constantly worn, could increase the chances of injuries that can then interfere with activities.
“Ten to 19 percent of children miss school or sports activities every year because of pain caused by heavy backpacks. And 30 to 50 percent of adolescents complain of pain related to backpack use,” reported Washington University’s The Source, a St. Louis-based newspaper.
Heavy backpacks also play a big role in changes to posture which over time can increase severity of shoulder, back and neck pain that students feel constantly.
Indian Trail High School & Academy students feel the muscle pain.
“Having a heavy backpack all day gets tiring at some point and sometimes takes you longer to get to your classes. It’s not good because you can develop back pain and hunchback in the future,” said Tresor Chilla, a Medical Science Academy senior.
Janet Jurado, a General Studies senior, has also experienced pain and discomfort due to the weight of her book bag.
“I have had back pain at times, but mainly shoulder pains on the same side of the arm I use to lift it up,” said Jurado, whose backpack weighs about 19 pounds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s weight, while Consumer Reports recommends keeping the weight closer to 10 per- cent of a child’s weight.
So when students with visibly heavy backpacks pass by the nurse’s of ice they will often weigh the backpack, and the heaviest they weighed was an astonishing 25 pounds.
But when asked about the possibility of placing a limit on the weight that students should be allowed to carry around school, some students weren’t quick to support the idea.
“No, because students need to have everything they need at all times; there should be no restrictions on how much material they can carry around. It’s their things and their classes,” Jurado said.
Communications Academy sophomore Savannah Cooks was more willing to consider a weight limit.
“Yes, because we are already drained from energy, so we don’t want to carry around 10 pounds for 8 hours,” she said
According to the American Pediatrics Association, some warning signs a backpack is too heavy include dif culty to put on or take off, pain while wearing it, tingling or numbness of limbs, visible strap marks on the shoulders, and a change in posture while wearing it.