education
Prevent Backpack Related Injuries by Choosing the Right One for Your Child
By Marisa Olson
Picking out the latest and greatest backpack is an end of summer tradition
for many young students, but this essential back-to-school item has the
potential to cause a lifetime of back and neck ailments.
"If too heavy or worn incorrectly, backpacks can strain muscles and joints,
and cause serious back pain," cautioned Paula Kramer, PhD, a licensed
occupational therapist and chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there were 7,300
reported backpack-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in 2006. Among the
injuries, sprains and strains were the most common complaints.
"Heavy backpacks breed poor posture in children because they bend forward to
compensate for the heavy load and this puts a strain on their backs and pressure
on their disks," said Dr. Kramer. "It is important for parents and school
officials to understand that even if a backpack is light, if the weight is not
distributed correctly, there can be long-term problems."
Dr. Kramer recommends the following tips to correctly choose and use a backpack:
- Select a backpack that is appropriate to the student's size and age.
Smaller backs will need smaller packs.
- Select a backpack with padded shoulder straps and always wear both straps
in order to evenly distribute the load.
- Select a backpack with reflective material to help students to be more
visible to buses and cars.
- Clip the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps to distribute the
backpack's weight more evenly.
- A backpack should weigh no more than 10-15 percent of the student's body
weight.
- Load the heaviest items closest to the student's back to help distribute
weight evenly.
- Adjust shoulder straps so that the backpack fits snugly to the back.
- Consider purchasing sling-style bags, which better balance weight due to
their triangular shape, or bags on wheels. With a sling-style bag, be sure to
wear the strap over one shoulder and across the body.
"If children wear backpacks that are too heavy and packed improperly, they
may be causing themselves a lifetime of aches and pains. If we can stress this
to parents, then maybe we will see the number of children having achy backs
decrease."
Marisa Olson works in the public relations department at the University of
the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA.
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