Does carrying a backpack everyday really ruin your back?
By rockerwitch
@rockerwitch (538)
Philippines
July 11, 2007 10:18am CST
I love using backpacks in school because they're big and I can just throw everything inside. I'm kind of a forgetful person so if I carry stuff in my arms and sit somewhere and put those down, I most likely will forget that I left them there. So I like having everything in my bag. And it's easier to lug around because the straps don't fall down my shoulder like in shoulder bags and I feel like messenger bags will make my shoulders uneven.
But I remember reading somewhere that backpacks can be a bit harmful to the back. When I was traveling with my friends, I used my backpack the whole time so I can just throw in there whatever stuff I buy. It's easier than having a lot of things in my hands in the subway. Then on our last day there, one of my friends used her backpack because that was our major shopping for souvenirs day. The day before, I've complained that my back hurt. But we were walking all day that day. I thought it was because of that. But then the major shopping day, my friend used her backpack and when we got home, she said, "Now I know why your back is aching."
2 people like this
7 responses
@tmlnmr (1850)
• Canada
11 Jul 07
Hi rockerwitch, they are very hard on the back if thy are too heavy. They are also hard on the back if you don't wear them at the proper height and the proper way. It is almost a science to wear them so that you limit the affects on your back. If you go to a chiropractor then they can tell you the proper way to wear it. I do know that carrying shopping bags in your hands are harmful as well because of the unevenness as the person above said.:)
1 person likes this
@rockerwitch (538)
• Philippines
17 Jul 07
Wow, I never knew there's a proper way of carrying backpacks. Thanks very much for that information, I will research on it. :)
Carrying shopping bags is harmful? Wow. I mean, when I carry grocery bags, it always hurts because they're really heavy. But I don't do that often so hopefully I haven't caused unevenness to my bones or whatever. :)
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
17 Jul 07
There was actually a study done in Canada a couple yrs ago (my mum who is a teacher there was telling me about it) on just this very topic and yes the students today are causing themselves physical damage by luggin things aroudn in a backpack...Its not actually the backpack itself though, its the sick amount of lbs worht of text/binders etc that they have to put INTO the pack thats doin it...
1 person likes this
@rockerwitch (538)
• Philippines
17 Jul 07
Is it really true that teachers give too much homework these days? My backpack was always heavy, even until now, but I never thought that it was because of too much homework... I kinda thought that it was just normal...
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
11 Jul 07
I think they are if the packs are too heavy but I have read it is worse by carrying a bag as then it is uneven carrying, here in Australia there has been a push to stop a lot of home work so the kids are not bogged down with too many books and too much home learning...
@rockerwitch (538)
• Philippines
17 Jul 07
Oh yeah I heard something about that too... I think some of the parents complained about that. When I was in high school, parents complained that children have too much homework during weekends that they don't have time to have "family time". And it was true. So what the school did was they asked teachers not to give homework on weekends. Because we only had Sunday as free day. We had classes until Saturday. Thursday is our "free" day but we have PE for half the day on Thursdays.
But that never made my bag lighter... :(
@thebonehead (68)
• United States
20 Jul 07
It's better to have a backpack than a book bag, or something of the sort. At least the backpack's weight is spread out, and evenly distributed on the left and right sides. You certainly can't say that about a book bag.
However, backpacks are much larger than book bags. People seem to have a tendency to want to stuff more things into the backpack, hence the reason why the backpack is bad for your back. Try not to put everything in there. Here's a general rule of thumb that I figure might work well. If you can't stand up straight for more than one or two minutes, you have too much in your backpack.
@jonaida (574)
• Philippines
21 Jul 07
Heavy backpacks could cause back pain so try to minimize the weight, try to check the contents of your backpack to be sure there are no unnecessary things in it. Some suggest to change bags to prevent carrying things that you don't need for that occassion. I agree with you about the advantage of carrying a backpack than a handbag, handbags usually causes us to have bad postures because one shoulder is carrying something.
@narcof (65)
•
11 Jul 07
As long as you don't carry a lot more weight than you are accustomed to, then it shouldn't be harmful to you. Personally I used to train carrying backpacks weighing anything up to the equivalent of a small person, and I have no injuries - it's all a case of making sure you don't stress your muscles by carrying too much too quickly, also make sure that if you're carrying any amount of weight you wear the pack properly, with the straps secured and fairly tight (but not too tight) over both shoulders, this will help keep the weight distributed correctly and balanced.
