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Backpack Pain
in Children
Every year
in August and September, children embark upon their educational
journey. Most children
use backpacks to help them carry all the required items, such as
books, binders, notepaper and even a laptop.
The backpacks allow them to carry more “stuff“ to and from
school. However, if
overloaded, these backpacks can become more harmful than they are
helpful.
The medical
trend of kids having back pain at an earlier age is becoming more
common. With sedentary
activities such as sitting in from of the computer or television, the
chances of back pain is more relevant.
How can a backpack cause pain?
By carrying a backpack over one shoulder or an overloaded
backpack for an extended period of time, the muscles involved are
strained, or overused.
Hopefully
this article will shine some light on the topic and help parents and
schools become more proactive in preventing this from becoming a
problem in their community.
What
to Look For
The most
common symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, tingling hands, shoulder
pain and lower back pain commonly arise.
Improperly carrying a backpack can also increase the child’s
chances of such pains.
In addition
to direct muscle damage, the backpack can also cause the child’s
body to lean forward to counterbalance its heavy weight.
This throws the child’s balance off, increasing their chances
of falling, possible into a busy street.
If your
child complains of pain or discomfort from their backpack, reduce the
weight immediately.
Statistically
Speaking
A survey by
Lands’ End Direct Merchant found that 96 percent of children ages 9
to 12 will carry a backpack to school. Of those, nearly one-third will
improperly carry their backpacks.
As we can see, it is safe to say backpacks are not going
anywhere anytime soon.
In a study
done by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 60 percent of the
doctors reported seeing child patients seeking medical attention for
back and shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks.
In another
study, the Consumer Report Safety Commission reported that
approximately 13,000 children were seen in ERS across the country for
backpack related injuries. This
statistic represents a 300 percent increase since 1996.
Though there
is still much more research to be done, we can review the available
studies and acknowledge that there is a developing problem regarding
backpacks among school children.
General
Guidelines
After
reviewing the available medical literature, it appears that there are
different recommendations on how much weight children should carry in
their backpacks.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children carry no more than
10 percent to 20 percent of their weight in a backpack.
According to
the guidelines from the American Chiropractic Association and the
American Occupational Therapy Association, students should carry no
more than 10 percent of their body weight in a backpack.
To be on the
safe side, keep the backpack’s weight below 10 percent of the
child’s weight. The
following table will help translates this percentage into usable
numbers:
Child’s
weight:
Max backpack weight:
60
pounds
Up to 6 pounds
80
pounds
Up to 8 pounds
100
pounds
Up to 10 pounds
120
pounds
Up to 12 pounds
140
pounds
Up to 14 pounds
What
can you do, as a parent?
As a parent
or guardian, it is important to realize that there are few simple ways
you can do to help your child reduce the chance of back pain.
*
Find a backpack that suits your child’s needs, smaller is better so
it will help discourage them from packing unnecessary “stuff.”
*
Monitor what goes inside your child’s backpack.
Help keep toys (such as Gameboys) and other unnecessary gizmos
out of their daily load. Train
your child to clean out their backpacks weekly.
*
Occasionally ask your child if they feel neck or back pain.
Don’t assume that their complaints are just “growing
pains.” Visit
your chiropractor and have your child checked out.
Make sure to ask the doctor for tip on stretches and exercise
that will help prevent future occurrences.
*
Talk to the teacher and see if you can purchase a second copy
of the textbooks. This
way your child will have a copy at home and at school and will not
need to lug them back and forth daily.
Backpack
Features
Not all
backpacks are designed the same and generally cost has more to do with
what cartoon character or teen is printed on them.
When choosing a backpack, here are some features to look out
for.
*
Choose lightweight material, such as plastic or canvas as
opposed to leather
*
Wide, padded,
adjustable shoulder straps, approximately 2inces wide
*
Hip or waist belt to help evenly distribute weight from
shoulder to lower back
*
Multiple compartments will also distribute help the weight of the
“little things.
*
Wheels and an extendable handle or purchase a rollerbags and saddle
bags.
Proper
Use
A very
effective way to prevent injuries is to teach your child how to
properly load and wear a backpack.
Here are some tips to pass onto your child:
*
Properly adjust the back pack straps so it hugs close to your
child’s body. The
bottom should be about 2 inches above their waist and the top should
not be higher than their bottom of their head.
* Make
sure they always use both straps, even if it doesn’t look
“cool.” Find creative ways to reward them for making this become a
positive habit.
*
Show them how to pack the heavier objects in first, they sit lower in
the backpack and closest to the body.
Also use any and all provided compartments to help distribute
the weight of the smaller objects.
*
When putting the backpack on, show your kids how do so properly
by lifting with their legs and to avoid twisting and bending.
If your child experiences persistent
neck or back pain, have them evaluated by a medical or chiropractic
professional. Our doctors can help recommend backpack options to
help protect your child from further injury.
ACCOLADE CHIROPRACTIC CARE
1609 Meridian Ave.
San Jose, CA 95125
Phone Number: (408) 448-8818
Email
Addresses: AccoladeChiro@aol.com
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