Show Oh Your Aching h g Back Check Your Backpack College Press Exchange CHAPEL HILL NC Ever stopped to consider that your backpack might have something to todo todo todo do with your backache Bags might come in an array of hip styles and colors but with the number of rising in schools and on college campuses physicians and chiropractors say its it's important for students to consider function over form In 1997 the US U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated r ed that more than children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for back pain related to their backpacks backpacks backpacks back back- packs and book bags More common is the gradual emergence of pain that comes after years of putting undue stress and strain on the lower back a predicament predicament predicament ment many college students report they now face Chas Gaertner a chiropractor who has set up shop near the University University University Uni Uni- of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimates tes that most of or his patients are much younger than the L typical crowd hanging out in chiro- chiro chiropractic j. j r- r offices He said about 80 percent percent percent per per- cent of his patients are ei either her in their teens or Their troubles are mostly posture related Gaertner said He blames many of the ailments he treats on book bags especially those that are overloaded Ive treated kids in the and grade that had backpacks bigger than their r torso he said Ive weighed that are 40 35 pounds Good thing not everyone fills their bags to the brim |