Backpack Safety -- It’s Serious Stuff!
Did you know that your child is carrying a dangerous burden on their back?
Does you child's backpack seem to get heavier each year? Does your child
wear a back pack or a bum pack? Dr. Wayne Yankus of the American Academy
of Pediatrics states, "There is a growing concern that youngsters may
have long term back problems from trudging about with such heavy loads. It
typically puts them off balance and gives them a posture that promotes low
back pain. A lot of kids don't suffer immediately, but over the long run
they might." Our patients often ask us on how to prevent injuries due
to the excessive weight of their children's backpacks. In a study of 200
Chiropractors, 89% responded that they have seen patients (ages 5-18) reporting
back, neck or shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks.
Let's start with a little math. If your child's back pack weighs "only" 12 pounds (weigh pack to get an accurate figure), and you child lifts that pack 10 times a day. That equals 120 pounds a day your child is lifting. If we multiply that by the 180 days of school per year that equals 21,600 pounds lifted in one year. In other words, your child lifts 11 tons of weight, equal to 6 mid-sized cars in one school year. You can see that this can create a problem for your child or start a problem of life long spinal problems. The average patient that comes into our office states that their pain started in the last 2 years but when we x-ray them, we often find 20-30 years of damage.
1) Backpack load should be no more than 10-15% of your child's body weight. Most references state this. The Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons state 20% but we feel this is too high.
2) Wide shoulder straps help to distribute weight and prevent restricted circulation.
3) Bend at the knees and lift with the legs.
4) Get a pack with a waist strap and a sternal strap. These help to place more weight on the hips and take some of the load off the shoulders.
5) A padded back is more comfortable and helps to protect the body from sharp objects.
6) Tighten the pack so it is close to the body and it is at least 2 inches above the waist. Watch the kids walking home from school. They have their backpacks riding on their bottoms and have to lean forward to carry it. This is asking for back trouble.
7) Check your child's posture when wearing their backpack. Their ears should be directly over their shoulders, shoulders over their hips and their hips over their knees. When this is not the case, spinal injury can occur.
8) See if you can get a separate set of books for home use to lighten you child's loads.
9) Encourage your child to tell you if they are having back pain. (If so, get them to your chiropractor as soon as possible.)
10) Get a rolling back pack. Even with this, the child has to carry it up stairs.
Ensuring that your child wears their backpack properly is a critical first step to backpack safety.
Maintaining a healthy spine for a lifetime is imperative for your child's future health and vitality. Today chiropractic is the number one choice for regular spinal care, thus preventing problems and promoting optimal health.
Dr. Scott DeMent and Dr. Melody DeMent are Doctors of Chiropractic who are married, own DeMent Family Chiropractic. Spinal health and wellness care for the individual and families are their emphasis in their practice. The Doctors can be reached at 298-4999.
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