The Daily O’Collegian

College textbooks weigh heavy on the shoulders of anyone enrolled in at least one course at OSU.

You have to buy them, you must read them, but you probably should not carry every text book to class.

The O’Collegian found textbooks weigh 21 pounds for a typical freshman course schedule with five classes and 16 credit hours.

“Some of my books are huge, it feels like they weigh 10 pounds each by the end of the day,” said Simon Collins, a biochemistry freshman.

Dr. Robert McCartney, a doctor of chiropractic and a 1977 OSU animal science graduate warns students of the dangers associated with heavy books and backpacks.

“I haven’t had to treat any college students,” McCartney said. “But elementary students have come to me with back problems.”

Carrying backpacks filled with textbooks among other school supplies can not only put pressure on a student’s spine but can also cause a plethora of health problems ranging from strains to ruptured discs.

“I’ve never really felt like [spine damage] was that big of a deal — I take very few books to class anyway so to me it doesn’t matter too much,” said Hannah Bruster, an undecided sophomore.

Students are most likely to notice backpack related injuries if they suffer lower back pain, pain between the shoulders and pain in the middle back, McCartney said.

“Shoulder damage and nerve damage in the collarbone can make hands and fingers feel numb,” McCartney said.

Students can avoid health problems by keeping in shape while lightening the loads in their backpacks.

“Students should avoid really thick backpacks,” McCartney said. “Get a thin backpack and keep it as light as possible.”

Carrying the fewest number of books is ideal, McCartney said. He also recommends buying a backpack with padded shoulders, padding between the back and book compartment and a strap that snaps around the stomach.

“An abdomen strap provides the most support,” McCartney said. “This way you will have better balance, which allows for less stress on the spine.”

To keep proper balance, McCartney said students should keep the backpack straps snuggly around the shoulders.

“A wheeled backpack would be ideal,” McCartney said. “And staying in good shape — working the core, weight training and push-ups- — can help a student’s health overall.”