Increasingly heavy backpacks have negative spinal effects
As students juggle seven or more classes their backpacks overflow with papers, binders and textbooks. People like Brittany Swearingen carry around many textbooks in order to avoid online resources. “I hate reading on screens,” she said. “It really frustrates me. I have to be able to touch what I’m reading.”
Passing period can easily turn into a fight to see who can sprint down the middle staircase and get to class on time. A common weapon of choice? Backpacks, stuffed with textbooks, binders, workbooks and spirals.
Today, heavy backpacks are common. Advanced classes come with large amounts of paperwork and textbooks.
“If I had to walk home, I wouldn’t be able to carry it all,” freshman Christian Uhrich said.
The National Center for Biotechnology conducted a study in 2010, finding the constant pressure of heavy backpacks many stu- dents face can compress their spinal cord and cause back pain.
“I feel like unnecessary weight on any part of your body that’s not meant to be there damages your muscles,” sophomore Brittany Swearingen said.
This October, a tech.Mic article reported carrying heavy back- packs can affect how tall students can be due to bones found in the lower spine being packed together.
Online textbooks are being offered for many students as an alternative to the bone-crushing weight. Some have used this as a solution and do not face the weight of heavy backpacks all the time.
“Occasionally, I’ll have my laptop on me, so that makes the online textbook a lot more convenient,” sophomore John Milburn said.
Although online textbooks are available, some students do not have access to these books. Other students simply prefer paper textbooks better.
“My math class [has an online textbook], but it’s really hard to use,” Uhrich said. “It’s not in front of you, and it’s not always the same thing.”
Swearingen agreed.
“My classes have them, but we don’t use them,” she said. “I definitely prefer the paper. Despite them being so heavy, I just can’t manage the online.”
Online textbooks may be a nuisance for some due to lack of computers or difficulties of reading on screens, but the benefits of leaving textbooks in lockers could outweigh the benefits.
The Mic. article reports temporary pain from backpacks can easily become chronic, even after just a year of carrying a heavy load. However, other than using online textbooks when they are available, it seems there is little students can do.
In fact, students have carried heavy backpacks for so long, some are becoming immune.
“At times, it makes [my backpack] pretty heavy, but I get used to it,” Milburn said.
