The backpack: possibly the quintessential student accessory along with the pencil, pen and notebook.
But some Fairfield University students are ditching the classic carry-all, which may actually be a good thing. Carrying a backpack can be very unhealthy, especially if it’s filled with today’s heavy college textbooks.
“Back muscles are our weakest muscles,” said Dr. Sheila Grossman, a professor of Fairfield’s School of Nursing. “And here we are putting this big strain on them [with backpacks].”
Some have taken notice. Erika Ludwig ’07 is one student who has turned her back on the villainous pack.
“It just got to be too much,” she said, complaining of chronic back pain in, “that middle part of the back that just needs a massage.”
According to Grossman, within the back and spine there are ligaments equipped with pain receptors that are highly susceptible to sprains. Without proper back exercises (which most students neglect in their gym outings), wearing backpacks can lead to poor posture, as well as lower back pain further down the road.
Ludwig found relief in the form of her “trusty Vera Bradley bag.” And it’s not merely functional; her black, green and pink floral accessory was selected for its visual appeal.
A glance around campus reveals she is not alone. Stylish shoulder bags have become increasingly popular among Fairfield students.
Observing students mill around Barone Campus Center will reveal that over half of the female students have a shoulder bag in tow. Style was the key factor in several cases; others, vengeance.
“I went to an all-girl high school, and I was only allowed to use a black or navy blue backpack,” said Kat Reilly ’09. “So now this crazy, sporty bag is kind of my revenge.”
Fairfield’s male populace is more faithful to the backpack, with only a handful of students seen carrying a male-version of the shoulder bag.
Tony Gadaleta ’07 has switched primarily to a shoulder bag (currently sporting a model from the Gap), which he finds to be a better option.
“It forces you not to pack too much,” he said. “And it’s just easier to access when you need to, especially on the subway or something.”
Gadaleta’s sister now visits a chiropractor for muscle damage related to an overstuffed backpack. However, he still uses a backpack when he needs to carry “a lot of stuff.”
In a 2002 study, researchers Stefano Negrini and Roberta Carbalona recommended that loaded backpacks weigh no more than 15 percent (about one-sixth) of the wearer’s body weight.
Grossman pointed out that it’s not just the sheer weight in the backpack, but how it is distributed that matters.
“Most people don’t have the weight balanced mid-spine,” she said. “The center of gravity is off and they lean toward one side.”
This further stresses the back and the spine. Adjusting the shoulder straps can help reestablish the center of gravity, she said.
Where does that leave one-shouldered bags like the ones Fairfield students seem to be favoring?
“Shoulder bags are probably causing more harm [than backpacks],” Grossman said. “You’d probably be better off with the backpack.”
Steve Kulhanek ’07 has kept his backpack use to a minimum, but more out of convenience than health concern.
“I pretty much have one class a day,” he said, noting that carrying one notebook in his arms isn’t a problem. “But even in high school, with all those books [in a backpack], I never had a sore back.”
However, when the going gets tough, and quantum physics class requires multiple books, notebooks and calculators, Kulhanek utilizes his multi-pocketed L.L.Bean backpack to transport the otherwise unwieldy equipment.
Bill Doermer is not a student, but has been relying on a heavy backpack for years. As an avid hiker, Doermer cannot see an alternative for carrying a lot of equipment.
“A fully-loaded pack can easily weigh from 25 pounds to almost 60 or 70 pounds,” he said.
He also stressed careful packing, as well as proper strap adjustment to avoid back pain.
“I’ve gone backpacking for four or five days at a time, and never got that sore feeling. But I still can’t imagine it’s good for you.”
If proof of backpacks’ possible danger is needed, look no further than the fact that therapists, researchers and others have instituted National Backpack Awareness Day each fall.
“Pack it Light, Wear it Right!” reads the slogan on the Promote Awareness of Occupational Therapy Web site (www.promoteot.org). This year, 500 events were held at schools, community centers and retailers this year, reaching more than 100,000 students.
Backpacks can hurt you. Shoulder bags can hurt you. Is there any healthy way to transport those art history and organic chemistry clunkers?
“In a perfect world, you would separate your books by weight, and carry them in your arms in two separate bags,” Grossman said. “But I feel ridiculous even saying that.”
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