|
Backpack Misuse Leads to Chronic Back Pain.
Young children
are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous
generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a
contributing factor. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
reports that backpack-related injuries sent more than 7,000
people to the emergency room in 2001 alone.
"In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the
number of young children who are complaining about back, neck
and shoulder pain," said Dr. Scott Bautch, immediate past
president of the ACA's Council on Occupational Health. "The
first question I ask these patients is, 'Do you carry a backpack
to school?' Almost always, the answer is 'yes.'"
This new back pain trend among youngsters isn't surprising when
you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry
in their backpacks - often slung over just one shoulder. A
recent study conducted in Italy found that the average child
carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound
burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound
woman. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60
percent had experienced back pain as a result.
Preliminary results of studies being conducted in France show
that the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes
for a curvature or deformity of the spine to correct itself.
The results of these types of studies are especially important
as more and more school districts - many of them in urban areas
- remove lockers from the premises, forcing students to carry
their books with them all day long.
The problem has become so widespread, in fact, that the
California State Assembly recently passed legislation that would
force school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight of
students' backpacks. Similar legislation is being considered in
New Jersey as well. Limiting the backpack's weight to no more
than 10 percent of the child's body weight and urging the use of
ergonomically correct backpacks are possible solutions.
What Can You Do?
The following tips to help prevent the needless pain that
backpack misuse could cause the students in your household.
-
Make sure
your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of
his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your
child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on
his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the
straps.
-
The
backpack should never hang more than four inches below the
waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the
weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward
when walking.
-
A backpack
with individualized compartments helps in positioning the
contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky
objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your
child's back.
-
Bigger is
not necessarily better. The more room there is in a
backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the
backpack will be.
-
Urge your
child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack
around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of
weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as
well as low-back pain.
-
Wide,
padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are
uncomfortable, and can dig into your child's shoulders.
-
The
shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be
fitted to your child's body. Straps that are too loose can
cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal
misalignment and pain.
-
If the
backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child's teacher.
Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school,
and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.
-
Although
the use of rollerpacks - or backpacks on wheels - has become
popular in recent years, it is now recommended that they be
used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those
students who are not physically able to carry a backpack.
Some school districts have begun banning the use of
rollerpacks because they clutter hallways, resulting in
dangerous trips and falls.
-
Consider
the ACA-endorsed Samsonite Chiropak, a school bag designed to ease much of the stress that carrying
books can place on one's body. Among other features, the
Chiropak offers comfortable body-contact surfaces and an
adjustable hip/waist belt. For more information on the
Chiropak, visit
www.chiropak.com or
www.samsonite.com.
Chiropractic Care Can
Help...
If you or your child experiences any pain or discomfort
resulting from backpack use, call for a consultation. Dr.
Davenport treats patients of all ages, and uses a gentler
type of treatment for children. In addition, Dr. Davenport will prescribe exercises designed to help
your child develop strong muscles, along with instruction in good
nutrition, posture and sleeping habits. |
