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Articles and Reports |
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| BACKPACKS NOT MAKING THE GRADE |
| Wed 08/15/07 by Dr. Stephen D. Ambrose |
| For many Richmond students, "hitting the books" leads to academic achievement. Students who carry those books in overloaded backpacks may be placing themselves into a potential bad situation... Scientific research notes a danger associated with improper childhood backpack use. This research stems from the increasing number of reports of childhood back pain in recent decades. According to a recent University of Michigan study, by the end of their teen years, close to 60 percent of youths experience at least one low-back pain episode. And new research indicates that this may be due, at least in part, to the improper use of backpacks on young spines. An increase in back pain appearing most frequently during the period of rapid growth -- ages 11 to 16 is always a cause for concern. BACKPACKS AFFECTING BACKS Watch children in any schoolyard struggle to walk while bent sideways under the weight of an overloaded backpack on one shoulder. You will quickly realize the potential danger of this commonplace item. In fact, it doesn't suprise most parents when they talk about heavy backpacks because all kids tend to have this problem. How exactly does carrying a backpack affect the spine? Common sense tells us that a load, distributed improperly or unevenly, day after day, indeed causes stress to a growing spinal column. The old adage "As the twig bends, so grows the tree" comes to mind. There is a growing concern about the improper use of backpacks and the relatively scarce amount of instructional and preventative information available to young people. Some studies even indicate that scoliosis may be caused or worsened by these heavy packs. GOVERNMENT NUMBERS The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 7,277 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to book bags. The CPSC also reports that backpack-related injuries are up 330% since 1996. GETTING OUT OF LINE Hauling a heavy backpack over one shoulder everyday may cause serious postural misalignments. These postural imbalances often trigger a condition called vertebral subluxation. Vertebral subluxations are dysfunctional areas in the spine where movement is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are out of alignment. This disorder predisposes patients to a number of ailments, such as neck and back pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis. This is the condition that chiropractors examine and treat for. In addition, a recent scientific experiment found that carrying a backpack alters the mobility of spinal bones and can lead to restricted movement-a risk factor for pain. Yet another study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the effect of backpacks on the intervertebral disc of the spine, the fluid-filled "pillows" between spinal bones. According to the report, backpacks alter the fluid content of these discs-a risk factor for disc herniation ("slipped" disc) and osteoarthritis. OTHER SOURCES Research presented at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's annual meeting in San Francisco exposes yet another potential danger of heavy backpacks: they promote falls in students who wear them. Specifically, students who carried packs weighing 25% of their body weight exhibited balance problems while performing normal activities such as climbing stairs or opening doors, which in turn increases their risk of falls. In contrast, students who carried packs weighing 15% of their body weight maintained their balance moderately well. Those carrying 5% of their body weight were most effective at maintaining balance, compared with their peers who carried more weight. Why wear something that makes you fall, because you have to. ROLLER BAGS ARE NOT A GOOD SUGGESTION An empty roller bag can weigh up to 80% more than an empty backpack. Factor in that there is a tendency to add more things to a roller bag, it can end up weighing 50 pounds or more. At some point during the day, a child needs to lift that bag, and proper guidelines still should be followed. Students, parents, and teachers are in need of specific safety guidelines necessary to prevent future spinal conditions due to improperly worn backpacks. BACKPACK SAFETY TIPS *Make sure the backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized. The pack should fit perfectly between the shoulders and the lower back, not hanging below. Some manufacturers offer special child-sized versions for children ages 5-10. These packs weigh less than a pound and have shorter back lengths and widths so they do not slip around on the back. *You want to have padded shoulder straps to avoid pressure on the nerves around the armpits. Some backpacks have waist straps designed to stabilize the load. These should be used whenever possible. *The proper maximum weight for loaded backpacks should not exceed 15% of the child's body weight. For example, an 80-pound child should not carry more than 12 pounds in a pack. If the pack forces the carrier to bend forward, it is overloaded. *In loading, it is obvious that excessive backpack weight can cause problems. Prioritizing the pack's content is very important. Avoid loading unnecessary items. It is important to balance the weight of the contents or the body shifts into unnatural postures to compensate. Load heavier items or books closer to the body and work outward with lighter items. Look for signs -- pain, red marks from straps, poor posture -- indicating if a backpack fits poorly or is overloaded. |
