In May 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that backpack-related injuries sent almost 6,000 students to emergency rooms each year. The CPSC also reported that backpack related injuries are up 330 percent since 1996. A 2002 study by Airpacks showed that 66 percent of school nurses reported that students who presented with injuries or pain had been carrying backpacks – the cause of their physical problems.Many children will be in need of new backpacks when school starts, so I have included some important safety measures to consider for choosing and wearing backpacks. My goal is to teach you and your children how to avoid becoming one of the growing numbers of children and young adults with spinal problems related to improper backpack use.The amount of books, gear and plain old stuff our kids lug around in their backpacks is enormous. For many students, their book bag is their lifeline. I hear things like “I don’t have enough room in my locker to store all of my stuff,” or “I have to share a locker with another student so space is limited,” or “There is not enough time between classes to run to my locker.” Couple these excuses with sports equipment and uniforms, musical instruments, iPods, phones and purses; and you have a large load to tote around daily.Last year, I was driving behind a school bus as middle school students were let off. As I sat, I saw at least three different children who got off to walk toward home, struggling under the weight of their backpacks. They were bent over at the waist, heads held way out in front of their bodies, trying to counter the weight they had on their backs. The other posture I noticed was kids bent sideways under the weight of an overloaded backpack being toted on one shoulder. These postures are extremely abnormal. A load, distributed improperly or unevenly day after day, causes stress to a growing, developing spinal column. These postural imbalances often trigger a condition called a subluxation.A subluxation is a dysfunctional area of the spine, where movement is restricted or bones of the spine are out of alignment. This disorder predisposes individuals to a number of ailments: neck, shoulder and back pain; posture problems that could become more problematic later in life; headaches; breathing problems and osteoarthritis.Teach your children to use backpacks properly and safely by following these tips:
- Be sure the backpack fits your child. A correct size pack should fit to the size of your child’s back (from the nape of their neck to the top of their hips). Check for special child-sized packs for kids ages 5 to 10. Child-sized backpacks weigh less and have shorter back lengths and widths.
- Select a lightweight backpack with wide and padded, adjustable shoulder straps and a back that is padded. A good backpack will have several compartments that are meant to distribute the load and prevent the pack from becoming lopsided. Pack the heavier items in the center of the pack where the child can bear the weight with greater ease. As discussed earlier, children have a habit of putting as much as they can fit into their packs. Realistically, kids should carry no more than 10 to 15 percent of their own body weight. Another way to determine a good maximum weight is to have the child carry no more than what is comfortable in their arms for a few minutes. Teach them to pack just what is necessary. A study performed showed that students who carried packs weighing 25 percent of their body weight exhibited balance problems while doing normal activities like climbing stairs and opening doors. This increased their risk of falls. In contrast, students carrying 15 percent of their body weight maintained better balance.
- When putting the pack on, face the bag, bend at the knees and use both hands to check the weight. Lift with your legs. Put on one shoulder strap, then the other. Never wear the backpack on just one shoulder. It should be centered in the middle of the child’s back for proper weight distribution.
- The straps should be made to fit snug so the backpack rests against your child’s back, not too tight. When the pack has a waist strap, the student should use it for greater stability. Your child should be able to walk upright and comfortably with a backpack on and loaded. If they are forced to lean forward to carry the weight, it is overloaded.
- Unfortunately, roller bags are not much better. They are heavier to begin with, and, because the child is no longer carrying the load on their back, there is a tendency to add more things to the bag. These bags may result in forward head and upper back deviations – just as severe as carrying an overloaded backpack. Additionally, the dragging of the pack may cause excessive rotation in the child’s spine through the arm they use to drag the pack. Unusual and excessive rotation of the spine can cause spinal and postural distortions later in life. At some point during the day, your child will have to lift this bag, again leading to potential spinal problems.
