Dr. Mary Kneiser: On backpacks and back pains

Mary Kneiser image credit: backpainpro.info

Back pains are usually experienced by adults. This is no surprise, given that their bones and muscles lack the flexibility present in younger ones’. But for Dr. Mary Kneiser and other physiatrists, this idea is becoming less true because many children and teenagers nowadays also suffer from back pains. One of the reasons for this is their student lifestyle, which most of the time requires them to wear backpacks.

Mary Kneiser image credit: bimmerboost.com

Backpacks are efficient for busy and enthusiastic students who frequently carry a number of books and educational materials around. But if not used properly, backpacks pose health risks to passionate students who are eager to learn. For one, if these are overloaded, they end up straining the students’ backs, necks, and shoulders.

From babble.com

The back continuously adjusts to any load applied to it. For this reason, as Dr. Mary Kneiser and other experts in the physical medicine and rehabilitation field believe, heavy backpacks cause the natural curves in the middle and lower back to distort, leading to muscle strain and irritation of spine joints.

Mary Kneiser image credit: modernmom.com

Likewise, when students tend to carry their backpacks over only one shoulder, muscles start to become overworked as they try to compensate for the uneven weight.

With this, parents should guide their children on how to properly use their backpacks. School officials should also consider toning down the amount of materials they require students to bring every day. They should take in mind that they are responsible not only for the students’ mental and intellectual state but also for their physical condition.

Learn more about Dr. Mary Kneiser by visiting www.abilityassessments.com.