Backpacks shouldn't be a pain in the neck – Daily News
Backpacks are great for children to carry items back and forth from school to home, but backpacks that weigh more than 15 percent of your childs body weight may cause health problems for your child. Neck, shoulder and back pain may develop from carrying a heavy backpack every day.
The spine is made of 33 bones (called vertebrae) that have disks in between them that act as natural shock absorbers. A child carrying an unusually heavy backpack leans his or her head and chest forward to compensate for the weight of the back, which puts stress on the back and neck. if your child uses only one strap to carry their backpack, the spines natural shock absorption ability is reduced because only one side is carrying the weight, and your child will end up leaning to one side to make up for the extra weight in the pack.
Backpacks, if used properly, can be very useful for children. When choosing a backpack, check to make sure that it has two wide, padded straps that fit over your childs shoulders, a padded waist or chest belt that will distribute weight more evenly across the body, multiple compartments to distribute weight and does not have a width greater than the childs chest.
Backpacks that have metal frames, such as those used by hikers, are better for your childs back but may not fit into lockers at school. Backpacks on wheels also are better for your childs back, but many schools do not allow them, as other children may trip over them in hallways. Check with your childs school to see what its policy is for these types of packs.
Parents can help prevent backpack-related injuries by:
making sure that the backpack is the right size.
Teaching your child to pick up and put on the backpack correctly. your child should face the backpack, bend at the knees, grab the pack with both hands to lift it and put one strap on at a time.
When wearing a backpack, bend both knees when you bend down. do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.
Encouraging your child to use his or her locker during the day instead of carrying all of his or her books at once.
Telling your child to avoid carrying unnecessary items in his or her backpack. if your child does need to carry heavy items, such as sporting equipment, the heavier items should be placed in the back of the pack, closer to the body.
Helping your child with homework planning. if you notice he or she is putting off assignments until the weekend, help him or her manage homework time during the week to avoid having a heavier pack on Fridays and Mondays.
Putting sharp objects, such as scissors, that can poke through the backpack in protective containers.
If your child experiences back, shoulder or neck pain, struggles to get his or her backpack on or off, leans forward when carrying his or her pack, or has numbness or weakness in his or her arms or legs, contact your pediatrician.
Sally Robinson is a clinical professor of pediatrics at UTMB Childrens Hospital, and Keith Bly is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the UTMB Childrens Emergency Room. this column isnt intended to replace the advice of a physician.
Backpacks shouldn't be a pain in the neck – Daily News