Back to school, heavy packs, kids health and safety issues

Home

Our Company

Products

Other Services

Management

Branches

Contact Us

What's New

Forms/Documents

Pay on line

What's new

Back to school, heavy packs, kids health and safety issues
August 2007

Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about pain or discomfort that may be caused by a heavy backpack. Do not ignore any back pain in a child or teenager.

Parents would be wise to pay attention to their child's backpack, as a significant percentage of school students suffer lasting pain related to the weight on their backs.

The pain could be a harbinger of longstanding back problems or even permanent injury.

Research has shown that adults with severe back problems often had pain as kids. It is possible to have lifelong suffering from this kind of injury.

A University of California-Riverside study focused on 3,498 middle school students in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It concluded that rolling backpacks might be one possible way to deal with the substantial weight of school textbooks, since students don't really have a choice about whether to carry them or not.

Backpack Safety - Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Backpacks are a popular and practical way for children and teenagers to carry schoolbooks and supplies. When used correctly, backpacks can be a good way to carry the necessities of the school day. They are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body's strongest muscles.

However backpacks that are too heavy or are worn incorrectly can cause problems for children and teenagers. Improperly used backpacks may injure muscles and joints. This can lead to severe back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems. Share these guidelines to help your family use backpacks safely.

Choose the right backpack. Look for the following:

Wide, padded shoulder straps — Narrow straps can dig into shoulders. This can cause pain and restrict circulation.
Two shoulder straps — Backpacks with one shoulder strap that runs across the body cannot distribute weight evenly.
Padded back — A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort.
Waist strap — A waist strap can distribute the weight of a heavy load more evenly.
Lightweight backpack — The backpack itself should not add much weight to the load.
Rolling backpack — This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs. They may be difficult to roll in snow.

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase curvature of the spine.
Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist.
Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's total body weight.
Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.
Stop often at school lockers, if possible. Do not carry all of the books needed for the day.
Bend using both knees, when you bend down. Do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.
Learn back-strengthening exercises to build up the muscles used to carry a backpack.
Ask your pediatrician for advice.

Parents also can help in the following ways:

Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about pain or discomfort that may be caused by a heavy backpack. Do not ignore any back pain in a child or teenager. Ask your pediatrician for advice.

Talk to the school about lightening the load. Be sure the school allows students to stop at their lockers throughout the day. Team up with other parents to encourage changes.
Consider buying a second set of textbooks for your student to keep at home.

The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

The team from University of California-Riverside, studying local 11- through 15-year-olds and their backpack habits, found that the main predictor of pain was how much a backpack weighed compared with the student carrying it. Long-term effects have not been assessed, but the team plans to follow up on its research to learn more. Plans for doing a study took shape as the number of young patients with spine problems necessitating therapy, increased

Kids often complain about pain, about their backpacks. Kids complain all the time and usually nobody pays much attention.

The team weighed the students and their backpacks and asked the students how they used their packs and how much pain they had, if any. Sixty-four percent of the students team reported pain, and 21 percent reported pain that lasted more than six months.

The team found an increase in reports of pain as the weight of backpacks rose compared with their owners' body weights. The increase was so gradual that the team was unable to specify a "safe" relative backpack weight for protecting students. It found that a student whose backpack weighed five percent of what he or she weighed was much less likely to report back pain than a student whose pack weighed 20 percent of what he or she weighed.

One concern researchers cited is that most schools have removed lockers because of vandalism and concerns about safety, so many students carry a whole day's worth of books and supplies at all times.

Four middle schools were included in the study. At two, a majority of students came from lower-income families, based on the percentage of students participating in a free lunch program. Two of the schools made some use of extra sets of textbooks -- one for the classroom and one for students' use at home -- so students did not have to carry all their books home. None of the schools had lockers for book storage.

The researchers calculated the relative weights of the students' packs as a percentage of their body weights. They also assessed the influence of how the students carried their packs -- in the hands, over one shoulder or over both shoulders -- and for how long they carried the packs.

More than 64 percent of the middle school students surveyed reported pain, and more than 41 percent said they felt pain while carrying their packs. Almost all said they were relieved when they could take their packs off. Of those with pain, more than 12 percent called it "not bad," more than 75 percent called it "bad" and more than 12 percent called it "very bad."

The backpacks weighed from half a pound to 37 pounds, with a mean average weight of 10.6 pounds. The ratio of backpack weight to student weight, expressed as a percentage, ranged from less than 1 percent to 43 percent. Over forty percent of the students walked to and from school carrying their packs. The team found a significant link between that and pain.

If you have kids getting ready to go back to school, you should know that 37% of the children complain of back pain. The risk for having more back increases with the weight of their school back. Choose an ergonomically school back for your child and you will avoid unwanted health problems in the future.

Bibliography: