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ESCANABA -- It's back to the books for students across the U.P.  Schools are back in session.

But before packing your backpack to the brim, there are a few things to remember that can ultimately lead to a healthier back.   

The sound of lockers and chatter echo through the halls at the Escanaba Middle School once again.  It's the end of the first day, and students file out to the buses with their backpacks.  They're only allowed to carry them before and after school, not only for safety, but also for their health.

"If this is the time that their backs are growing, that their whole body is growing, it's not a necessary thing for them to carry around excess weight, so we try to discourage that," explained Middle School Principal, Steve Martin.

Because carrying heavy backpacks for long periods of time can indeed cause back problems, chiropractors recommend not carrying more than 10 to 20 percent of your body weight at a time.

"The spine will change.  Where the normal curve in your neck or normal curves that you're suppose to have that act as a shock absorber for your body, they start to change over time," said Dr. Marty Laurila.  "Once those change, they affect the spine in leaning, leaning of the spine."

If you ultimately can't avoid a full backpack, Laurila recommends tightening your straps to make sure your bag is tight against your back so it doesn't sag.  And even though they're very popular, he also recommends trying to avoid over the shoulder bags.

"Unfortunately, that's what you see a lot of nowadays; more kids like them, they like the design.  But those are going to put a lot of strain on your spine and posture, put a lot of tension over the body," Laurila explained.

And age does make a difference.  Those in elementary and middle school are more at risk for problems because they're still in the developing stages.