Studying for tests, doing homework until 3 a.m., working 40 hours a week — the only time some students can catch up on sleep is during class. But how can they when the desks are so uncomfortable?

Some students say they have trouble fitting into the small desks, and the hard plastic chairs can be painful against their spines.

“It hurts my back if I’m sitting there for a while,” senior communication major Brandon Freeman said. “I don’t think they [the desks] are designed very well.”

Janis Sawyer, a physical therapist at University Health Service, has received complaints from taller students who are unable to fit their legs under desks. Their knees push up against the desk’s table, causing their calves to cramp up.

“They just need to pump their ankles,” Sawyer said. This refers to moving the foot to improve circulation in the ankles and calves.

Some desk tables are built closer to the body than others, which can cause problems for some students because the tables push into their stomachs.

“The ones [tables] that are closer are really uncomfortable,” said Mike Kyzivat, a senior computer science major.

Students experiencing any kind of pain while sitting in desks should uncross their legs, sit up straighter, push their shoulders back or even stand up and walk around, recommends Sawyer.

“If someone is sitting at a computer, we tend to like to tell them to do something to change positions every two hours,” Sawyer said.

But Sawyer knows professors may be offended if students walk out of class to stretch, but explaining the need to walk around for a few minutes will help teachers understand.

Sawyer doesn’t believe the desks will cause any long-term health problems for students, unless desks are aggravating any existing back or leg problems. If this is the case, Sawyer suggests students see a doctor to diagnose their condition. If necessary, students should then call University Health Service for an appointment with a physical therapist.

Many campus classrooms have desks for students with disabilities, and students with diagnosed conditions would be eligible to use them.