Can wearing a backpack cause pinched nerve?

A backpack can easily weigh upwards of 20 pounds, which places constant load and compression along the spine. This can potentially lead to the cervical vertebrae impinging on the nerves that run from the neck, across the shoulders, and down the front of the arms.



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Overloaded backpacks may strain muscles and joints, cause neck pain, and can lead to headaches. Heavy backpacks can also pinch or strain nerves at points of contact.

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Wearing a backpack that is too heavy can cause back pain, neck pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, and weakness in the arms and hands. Done repetitively or for long periods of time, this practice can potentially damage the spine and sensitive nerves of the neck and back.

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Carrying a purse or messenger-style backpack over one shoulder might sound like a source of neck pain, but the reality is that this can also contribute to sciatica pain. Carrying excess weight on one side of your back puts undue stress on your muscles, which can cause inflammation and irritation on your sciatic nerve.

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This shows that carrying an overly heavy backpack places increased stress on the spine, leading to compression of spinal discs that can likely be attributed to the formation of annular tears. A more recent study published in 2018 examined what kind of effect walking while carrying a backpack had on the spine.

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Pain caused from excessive loads has gained the term “backpack syndrome.” Backpack syndrome causes headaches, neck and back pain, and fatigue. There have been studies examining the effects of carrying backpacks on one shoulder versus both shoulders. Carrying a bag on one shoulder causes significant asymmetries.

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Repetitive movements like bending or lifting, as well as carrying unbalanced loads like a heavy backpack or shoulder bag, can also increase your risk for developing a herniated disc.

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Back pain from carrying backpacks can be avoided with the following solutions:
  1. • Check your posture. Carrying a backpack, especially a heavy one can change your spinal alignment. ...
  2. • Lessen the load. ...
  3. • Wear your backpack properly. ...
  4. • Consider backpacks with padded shoulder straps. ...
  5. • See a specialist.


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Back pain from carrying backpacks can be avoided with the following solutions:
  1. • Check your posture. Carrying a backpack, especially a heavy one can change your spinal alignment. ...
  2. • Lessen the load. ...
  3. • Wear your backpack properly. ...
  4. • Consider backpacks with padded shoulder straps. ...
  5. • See a specialist.


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The condition was first described in 1969 in Vietnam soldiers. 8 The brachial plexus is injured by the weight of the backpack due to direct compression or stretch of the nerve tissue leading to demyelination, with or without axonal injury.

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Backpack palsy is a rare but well-established cause of brachial plexus injury, arising as a result of heavy backpack use. We present an unusual case of backpack palsy with Horner's syndrome. Keywords: Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Accidents, injuries, Neurological injury, Peripheral nerve disease, Trauma CNS /PNS.

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Continuous use of heavy backpacks, bags, suitcases, briefcases, and purses can cause muscle weakness and fatigue. This pushes the spine out of alignment. It also causes bad posture and other conditions that lead to scoliosis in children and teens (since the spine is still developing at these ages).

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When on your back, adjust the straps so that it sits two inches below the shoulder. The pack should end at your waist and not extend past two inches above your hips.

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Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can cause a person to lean to one side to compensate for the uneven weight. This can curve the spine. Over time, this can cause lower and upper back pain, strained shoulders and neck, and even functional scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

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Best are bags that are fairly flat and of soft, lightweight material that molds to the body—buttery leather is great, but so is nylon, Medina says. Beware of stiff leather (It doesn't feel friendly); chunky hardware; big studs, stones, or other doodads that keep you and your bag apart.

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