Choosing a Backpack Can Be a Pain in the Neck
So the summer is almost over, and you’re heading to your favorite mega superstore to purchase the required school supplies. You get everything on your lengthy list and realize it’s time to grant your pupil the one item that can most influence her popularity (according to your child)… a new backpack!
How can one item be so important? Should your only question be, “Is Hannah Montana more ‘in’ than SpongeBob this year?” Parents need to consider numerous factors when selecting a book bag, and the physical well-being of your child and his spine should be your main focus.
When children or teens wear backpacks incorrectly or with too much weight, muscle and joint injuries can occur, causing severe neck, shoulder and back pain. Dr. Steve Schuman, M.D., a KC area adolescent/sports medicine physician, says he has “seen some kids with chest pains from the strain on the ribcage and shoulders” from backpacks.
Dr. Schuman recommends a weight limit of 15 to 20 percent of the child’s body weight. “Think of it as the proper ‘tip’ amount: more than that and your child will ‘tip’ over!” he says. “If your child can’t stand straight up and has to bend or lean to carry it, it is too heavy.” Some experts suggest you load up the backpack as you normally would and weigh it to see if it could be jeopardizing your child’s health.
Dr. Chris Leonardi, an Overland Park chiropractor, says he sees many children and teens in his practice and regularly performs backpack safety exams in his office. He also cautions that “over 40 million students carry school backpacks, and more than half of children regularly carry more than the recommended weight.” When polled, 58 percent of orthopedists reported treating children with back or shoulder pain attributable to carrying backpacks, according to Leonardi. Common symptoms that arise when pressure is put on the nerves in the shoulder include numbness in the hands, muscle wasting, and in extreme cases, nerve damage.”
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests looking for the following features when choosing the proper backpack:
• Wide, padded shoulder straps (narrow straps dig into shoulders restricting circulation)
• Two shoulder straps (the popular across-the-chest style may be damaging)
• Padded back (to prevent inside items from jabbing the child)
• Waist strap (distributes the weight more evenly across the back)
• Rolling backpack (ideal if your child’s school permits them and has no stairs to maneuver.)
Acquiring the perfect backpack is just the first part of the battle. If your child refuses to wear it correctly or loads it up until the seams are bulging, he may still be in danger.
Cindy Diggs, a Raymore mother of two teenage boys and a kindergartner-to-be, says she thankfully hasn’t had any backpack injuries at her house. She offers, “To prevent (injury) I always make sure they carry it correctly--not carrying it on one shoulder--and that it’s not too heavy.” She also suggests carrying some books outside of the bag to lessen the load.
The beginning of the school year has enough anxiety and stress for kids and their parents. Knowing what to look for in a backpack can ease a little of it. And as the school year rolls on, look on the bright side when your child forgets her homework or his library book—a little spine is getting a bit of extra relief that day!
Stacey Hatton is an RN and an Overland Park mother of two toddlers, who thankfully don’t wear backpacks yet, decreasing this mommy’s anxiety by a whopping 1/16 of a percent!