Kids going back to school are
caught between a rock and a hard place
WESTBROOK, MAINE (August 17, 2007) For many students, “hitting the books” leads to academic achievement. Students who carry those books in overloaded backpacks may be unknowingly participating in the beginning of a health epidemic.
Scientific research reveals an alarming danger associated with improper childhood backpack use. This research stems from the increasing number of reports of childhood back pain in recent decades. By the end of their teen years, close to 74 percent of youths experience at least one low-back pain episode. And new research indicates that this may be due, at least in part, to the improper use of backpacks on young spines. The study, published in the December 5, 2005 issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, concludes that the average backpack load that children are now carrying should be reduced. Back pain leads to more than 19 million doctor visits per year, according to the U.S. Department of Human Health and Services. What will that figure be when the members of the “Backpack Generation” are in their thirties and forties?
The backpack predicament
You can’t exactly tell your children not to bring their textbooks to and from school – but what if the consequence of a consistently overloaded backpack is neck, back and shoulder pain? Children are caught between a rock and a hard place. Watch children in any schoolyard struggle to walk while bent sideways under the weight of an overloaded backpack on one shoulder. You will quickly realize the potential danger of this commonplace item.
How exactly does carrying a backpack affect the spine? Common sense tells us that a load distributed improperly or unevenly day after day indeed causes stress to a growing spinal column. The old adage “As the twig bends, so grows the tree” comes to mind. There is a growing concern about the improper use of backpacks and the relatively scarce amount of instructional and preventative information available to young people. It is not the backpack’s fault that kids don’t know the guidelines.
Check the numbers
As of 2006, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 7,353 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to book bags. The CPSC also reports that backpack-related injuries are up 330% since 1996. “That is the beginning of an epidemic, one that will cause serious damage to a child’s health for a lifetime,” said Dr. Kelly Larson-Brunner of New England Chiropractic in Westbrook.
Do this “heavy” math: 12 pounds in an average child’s backpack (a conservative figure based on the research) multiplied by ten lifts per day equals 120 pounds lifted per day. This 120 pounds per day times 180 days per school year equals 21,600 pounds lifted in just one school year. That means that this child is lifting nearly 11 tons per year, the equivalent of six full size automobiles. Day in and day out, year after year, one can see how improper lifting alone would cause serious damage.
Getting out of line
Hauling a heavy backpack over one shoulder everyday may cause serious postural misalignments. These postural imbalances often trigger a condition called vertebral subluxation. Vertebral subluxations are dysfunctional areas in the spine where movement is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are out of alignment. This disorder predisposes patients to a number of ailments, such as neck and back pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis.
In addition, a recent scientific experiment found that carrying a backpack alters the mobility of spinal bones and can lead to restricted movement—a risk factor for pain. Yet another study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the effect of backpacks on the intervertebral disc of the spine, the fluid-filled “pillows” between spinal bones. According to the report, backpacks alter the fluid content of these discs—a risk factor for disc herniation (“slipped” disc) and osteoarthritis.
Roller bags are not cure-alls
An empty roller bag can weigh up to 80% more than an empty backpack. Factor in that there is a tendency to add more things to a roller bag, it can end up weighing 50 pounds or more. At some point during the day, a child needs to lift that bag, and proper guidelines still should be followed.
These disturbing trends clearly show the importance of a comprehensive educational program designed to give students, parents, and teachers the guidelines necessary to prevent future spinal conditions due to improperly worn backpacks.
Backpack safety tips
Dr. Kelly Larson-Brunner recommends the following tips for healthy and safe use of backpacks: Make sure the backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized. Some manufacturers offer special child-sized versions for children ages 5-10. These packs weigh less than a pound and have shorter back lengths and widths so they do not slip around on the back.
Consider more than looks when choosing a backpack. An ill-fitting pack can cause back pain, muscle strain, or nerve impingement. You want to have padded shoulder straps to avoid pressure on the nerves around the armpits. Some backpacks have waist straps designed to stabilize the load. These should be used whenever possible.
The proper maximum weight for loaded backpacks should not exceed 10-15% of the child’s body weight. For example, an 80-pound child should not carry more than 12 pounds in a pack. If the pack forces the carrier to bend forward, it is overloaded.
In loading, it is obvious that excessive backpack weight can cause problems. Prioritizing the pack’s content is very important. Avoid loading unnecessary items. It is important to balance the weight of the contents or the body shifts into unnatural postures to compensate.
Often ignored is the act of lifting and positioning the pack. Lifting 20 pounds improperly can cause damage.
Follow these simple steps:
• Face the backpack before you lift it.
• Bend at the knees.
• Using both hands, check the weight of the pack.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.
• Carefully put one shoulder strap on at a time. Never sling the pack onto one shoulder.
Use both shoulder straps. Make them snug but not too tight. Carrying the backpack on one shoulder, while fashionable, can cause long-term neck, shoulder, back, and postural problems. Use the stabilizing waist strap around the waist.
Follow these additional tips to help prevent injury or accident.
• Keep backpacks off the floors and clear of walkways. Prevent the possibility of someone tripping over your backpack.
• Do not swing your backpack. It could hurt you and it is dangerous to those around you.
• Make sure that pens, pencils and other sharp objects are stored in a safe spot so they don’t poke through and injure you or someone else.
For more information on backpack safety and how you can bring a program to your school or school district, visit www.backpacksafe.com. or contact our office at 207-854-2001.