An average of 14,000 backpack related injuries are reported annually according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent U.S. government agency for consumer safety.
From the time children begin their education they acquire a backpack to transport materials between home and school. While backpacks come in all shapes, colors and sizes, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) strongly suggests that they be purchased based on safety as opposed to style. There are three major safety concerns surrounding backpack injuries: the design of a backpack, the amount of weight in a backpack and how students carry their backpacks.
The ACA recommends backpacks that have wide padded shoulder straps, waist or chest straps and a padded back. The width and padding of shoulder straps distribute weight across a wider portion of the shoulder area to decrease concentrated stress on nerves and muscles. Waist and chest straps, along with a padded back, provide extra support by distributing weight more evenly across the body to reduce unnecessary strain on the spinal column.
The ACA also recommends that students carry no more than 10 percent of their body weight in their backpacks. The more weight being carried equals more strain on the spinal column and shoulders, and the weight of a backpack often determines how a student will carry it. Sophomore leadership major Logan Elliott stated that he carries very little in his backpack “to have good posture. And I feel like if I don’t, then I’m constantly weighed down.” When the weight in the backpack is excessive, a student is more likely to lean forward for better balance and to gain more support from their back. This increases the risk of chronic back pain from nerve and muscle irritation and an imbalance of weight distribution on the spinal column.
A leaning posture creates problems for the discs located between the vertebrae of the spinal column. During sleep, fluid fills the discs between vertebrae which allows the spinal column to absorb the shock of walking along with the constant force of gravity pushing down on the body. Blackburn athletic trainer Malia Murphy agreed that added stress on the spinal column can become painful because “that constant compression (of the discs) … can cause pressure on nerves.” She also pointed out that the discs themselves can begin to slip or bulge, also causing nerve irritation that will eventually lead to pain or a loss of feeling.