School-aged Children and Backpack Use

When Jack, an adolescent who regularly walked to school, complained of back
pain, neither he nor his father were prepared for the treatment plan. Jack's
doctor said he should not carry his backpack for two weeks. This meant he needed
extra help getting to and from school.

"A typical 80 to 100 pound child totes a backpack weighing 30 pounds," says
Angie Walker, physical therapist at Waukesha Memorial's Mukwonago Therapy
Services. "That puts a lot of stress on the body and can cause injuries now or in
the future."

Among school-aged children, there has been a rise in the incidence of
back-pack related pain and stiffness affecting the neck, back, shoulders and chest.
The consumer Products Safety Commission in 1998 blamed backpacks for an
estimated 3,300 emergency room visits by U.S. children ages 5 to 14. Backpacks also
may factor into the substantial increase in nontraumatic back pain in children
under the age of 18.

To avoid risk of injury and permanent postural problems, follow these tips
offered by Walker and Robert Zoeller, MD, medical director of the Department of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.

* Get in shape. Back injuries are most common in sedentary children and
adolescents.
* Lift backpacks by bending the knees.
* Use both straps
* Center the backpack high on the back, not slinging down to the buttocks.
* Scale down contents to essentials.
* Spread the load. Carry a book or two in hand.
* Learn and practice good posture, as it helps prevent back injury.
* Stop and stretch whenever carrying a backpack for more than 20 minutes.

Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

Article taken fromParentsTalk™: a community for moms and dads of all
generations. 2004.