For the majority of students, sitting for prolonged periods at a desk studying or using a computer, carrying large back packs and living with deadlines are a fact of life. All of which can cause neck, mid-back, or lower back pain as well as anxiety, exhaustion and digestive problems. Most people however, suffer through and wait for it to disappear, which it eventually will, that is, until the next time.

Sitting for prolonged periods strain muscles, ligaments and joints because of a lack of strength in the stabilizing muscles of the spine, combined with bad posture. If no treatment is done, and the area is left to rest, the pain will eventually go away, but the area is not healed.

The second major stressor is carrying a back pack., and there are some very simple guidelines to follow which will help reduce the amount of stress put on the spine.

Warning signs that a school bag is too heavy include:

• Change in posture when wearing the backpack
• Struggling to put on or take off the backpack
• Pain when wearing the backpack
• Tingling or numbness and red marks

Students should wear both straps; wear the backpack over the strongest mid-back muscles; lighten the load; and use proper lifting techniques.

In addition to regular and appropriate chiropractic care, we also advise you to choose the following when buying a backpack:

• Ergonomically designed features that enhance safety and comfort 
•   A padded back to enhance comfort and reduce back, shoulders and under  arm  regions pressure
• Hip and chest belts help transfer some of the weight from the back/shoulders to hips/torso
• Multiple compartments to better distribute the weight in the backpack, keep items secure, and ease access to the contents
• Compression straps on the sides or bottom of the backpack to stabilize the articles and compress the contents so that the items are as close to the back as possible
• Reflective material to enhance visibility of the student to drivers at night

Check out just how much all that stuff you haul around every day actually weighs.

If you’re hauling around more than 15% of your body weight, lighten up. Now! 

As a chiropractors, our role is to care for the spine and allow the body to perform up to its' capabilities. We know patients are leaving our office to go home and do the same type of things that caused the problem in the first place. Chiropractic care is just that, “Care”, not “Cure”. The amount of daily stress people are under requires us to care for our bodies. You can not cure daily wear and tear. Waiting until symptoms occur or the problem becomes chronic is not a good option. One last hint: Have an icepack handy, it will help reduce the inflammation and pain.  

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About The Author: 

Dr. Halpern is a Chiropractor who is Wellness based with a broad range of interests in the health and wellness field. He has become certified in Psych-k (Belief change) and Reconnective Healing, both concentrating on helping his practice members to live the life of their dreams. Dr. Halpern also has a lot of experience working with sport specific injuries, foot mechanics and custom made orthotics.