Students who are moving away to college will often have a long list of things on their minds, and their back health may not appear on this list. When you're young, it's easy to dismiss back pain as an issue for adults and seniors, but this is simply not the case. Everyone should be aware of his or her back health, including those who are moving away to college. Students can jeopardize the health of their back in a variety of ways, which could leave you feeling miserable during a time that you should be enjoying. Here are some risk factors for back pain, and how to get over them.

Studying Too Much

Most college students spend a considerable amount of time hitting the books, which can mean hours on end sitting at a desk in your dorm or in the library. Long stretches of sitting aren't healthy for your back, especially if you're sitting in a slouched manner. Additionally, the chair in your dorm might not provide you with adequate back support, which could leave you with a sore back even if you mostly sit with good posture. You can lessen this risk by moving frequently as you study, perhaps even setting an alarm to remind you to get up regularly.

Sleeping On A Bad Mattress

Mattresses in college dorms aren't commonly known for their high level of comfort. This means that you might get a mattress that is worn out and doesn't provide adequate support for your back, which could leave you with aches and pains in the morning and even a serious back issue by the end of the semester. Raise the issue with your dorm supervisor or another authority figure who can get the mattress replaced for you. If doing so isn't possible, consider buying a mattress that you can use.

Pushing Yourself Physically

Some new college students can gain weight as a result of eating too much unhealthy cafeteria food. If you're noticing your weight creep up, you might hit the gym to burn some calories. Unless you have a clear understanding of what you're doing, however, you could hurt your back. For example, some higher-impact activities such as attending an aerobics class can jostle your back around and cause pain, especially if the muscles in this area aren't strongly developed. If you wish to work out without back pain, consider some sessions with a trainer.