Slinging a backpack over one shoulder causes a person to lean to one side to compensate for the uneven weight, curving the spine. Teenage girls are especially susceptible to scoliosis. Make sure the backpack is not too heavy. The APTA recommends one should carry no more than 15 percent of one's body weight in a backpack. Students of all ages seem to be carrying heavier loads, often toting a full day's worth of textbooks and a change of clothing for after-school athletics or extracurricular activities.
Laptop computers are also common features in the college student's backpack.
As a result, the student may experience back, shoulder and neck pain. Pay attention to the type of backpack. Look for backpacks with wide straps. Narrow straps can hinder circulation, causing numbness or tingling in the arms, which over time may cause weakness in the hands. Look for a backpack with a waist belt.