Guest Columnist
Backpack Dangers: Is Your Child Carrying More than He Can Handle?
By
Aug 31, 2010 - 2:40:26 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - You've probably seen it at 3:00 p.m. -- scores of kids heading out of school weighed down with giant backpacks. Considering that middle-school textbooks weigh three or four pounds each, it isn't hard to understand why kids are toiling under the weight.

Disturbingly, a recent study conducted at the University of California points to some scary trends. Because middle-schoolers are routinely carrying loads of 10 pounds or more in their backpacks, kids are suffering from back pain. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, saying that kids who regularly carry an overloaded backpack are at risk for poor posture, muscle strain and headaches.

Your child may not have much of a choice about which books he needs to carry home, but there are other steps you can take to lighten the load and keep your child pain-free.

* Weigh your child's backpack. Use a bathroom scale, making sure that your child's packed backpack doesn’t weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight.

* Ditch the non-essentials. Your kid may not need to bring extra pens, paper and snacks to school. Swap out a large notebook or binder for a smaller one. Send her to class with an empty water bottle instead of a full one and she can fill it up at school.
* Pick the right pack. Avoid slings and messenger-style bags for kids. Single-strap backpacks don't distribute weight evenly, putting too much stress on one side of the body. Buy a smaller back for smaller kids, which will ensure a better fit and discourage overstuffing.
* Use both straps. Sure, wearing a backpack on one shoulder looks cool, but it's terrible for your back, neck and shoulders. Using both straps will better distribute weight.

* Keep it close. Adjust the backpack's straps so that it rests as close to your child's back as possible. A bag that's hanging away from the body puts more stress on the shoulders and neck.

Are rolling backpacks a solution?

Backpacks with wheels look a lot like rolling luggage, but they aren't always a good solution. Some schools don't allow them because in crowded hallways, rolling packs can be a tripping hazard. You'll certainly want to check with your school before buying one. If your child needs to climb stairs to get to his locker or classroom, keep in mind that he'll have to carry the pack upstairs anyway. And since wheeled backpacks weigh more on their own (about six pounds empty), that can also be a problem.

Experts don't agree on the subject of wheeled backpacks either. The American Academy of Pediatrics says they are really only a good option as a last resort. And the American Chiropractic Association states that the tripping hazard is a bigger risk that outweighs the benefits of a rolling pack. Australia's Choice magazine doesn't recommend them either, saying that their kid-testers had trouble negotiating stairs and grass with wheeled backpacks.

While parents might not have much control over what books kids need to bring home, choosing the right backpack in the right size, and ensuring that your child wears it properly can go a long way in avoiding back pain. Article originally created for Today’s Parent USA.

About the Author:
Christine Frietchen joined ConsumerSearch shortly after its launch in 1999, and is the "voice" of the website. As Editor-in-Chief, Christine oversees more than 5,000 content pages in more than 400 subject areas from mattresses to LCD televisions. She leads a staff of editors and a network of 50 freelance writers and researchers.

Prior to joining ConsumerSearch, Christine was a tailor in a Broadway costume shop for seven years. She holds a BFA from the University of Kansas.
For further information go to: www.consumersearch.com

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