Across the nation, millions of elementary, high school and college students are racing out to the school bus or scurrying to their classes with overstuffed backpacks slung over their shoulders. While carrying a backpack to school each morning might seem harmless enough, it can cause some painful back and neck problems for students who don't pack or carry their backpacks properly.
Back pain is pervasive in our society.
Eighty percent of all Americans will suffer from it at some point in their lives, and 50 percent of us will suffer from low-back pain this year alone. Much of this suffering is brought on by bad habits initiated during our younger years - such as carrying overweight backpacks to school. The improper use of backpacks can lead to muscle imbalance that could turn into chronic back and neck problems later in life. The American Chiropractic Association suggests the following tips to help prevent the needless pain that backpack misuse could cause the students in your household. If the backpack is heavier, it will cause your child to begin bending forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.