The Disadvantages of Backpacks at School
Backpacks have served as a staple for elementary children and college students for years. However, as the homework load increases and textbooks get heavier, the disadvantages of backpacks have come full circle and many schools have prohibited the use of them to protect the health and well-being of children and young adults. Dr. John Triano of Spine-Health.com suggests that backpacks can cause detrimental health issues and warns of the disadvantages.
Primary Health Risks
The primary health risk with backpacks revolves around the load applied to the spine for an extended period of time. As students cart textbooks and materials from home to school and from classroom to classroom throughout the day, the heavy weight eventually takes its toll on the back. According to Dr. Triano, the overload affects not just the spine--it also strains the back, neck and shoulders, which can lead to serious muscle imbalances over time.
Effects of Weight
As students take on more coursework each day, the weight of textbooks and course materials increases. Spine-Health.com warns that the weight of a backpack and its contents can cause a person's posture to deteriorate. Wearing backpacks may cause a student to lean forward, thus creating an imbalanced stance disrupting both posture and coordination. Heavy school backpacks may also distort natural curves in the back. If the curves are interrupted in the lower and middle back, the result is muscle strain and irritation to the rib cage or spine joints. In addition, extended use of a backpack may contribute to rounding of the shoulders. Wearing a bag over one shoulder creates even more health concerns with backpacks, according to Dr. John Triano. To compensate for uneven weight distribution, muscles will strain and the spine will lean. Long-term affects include a muscle imbalance that may lead to strains, spasm, headaches, neck pain and arm pain.
Fatigue Factor
As if the school day was not tiring enough for students, the added weight of school backpacks worsens the risk of fatigue. The extra weight and health concerns with backpacks contribute to the exhaustion a student may face on a regular basis. Cindy Bond of Family Education suggests that students avoid carrying more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight with backpacks harnessed to their shoulders and backs to reduce the health risks and fatigue associated with backpacks.
