Protect Your Child from Backpack Pain and Injury

August 20, 2010, By Staff Writer 0 comments

Pencils? Check. Markers? Check. Notebooks, textbooks and binders? Check, check and check. Back injuries? Check?

You may be prepared and have your child’s backpack completely stocked with school supplies, but are you thinking about the damage this weight can do on your child’s back? The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children carry no more than 10 to 20 percent of their weight in a backpack. But, as your children grow older and their workload increases, this weight often surpasses the limit. Sure, your children want to have the newest backpacks with their favorite color, super hero or princess on it, but are those really safe for their back?  

What are the Risks?

It’s a common myth that back pain goes hand and hand with growing older, but back pain is becoming much more common with children, especially as their backpacks become heavier. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 6,000 children experience backpack related injuries in the United States every year. These injuries can compromise a child’s posture as well as create conditions that demand medical attention. These conditions can range from stress fractures to inflamed growth cartilages and neck related injuries.

Signs of a Heavy Backpack

Besides the obvious complaining of a heavy backpack, as a parent you need to watch out for a few key signs that point to a backpack-related injury. If your child is leaning forward and hunched over with his/her backpack on, this is a sign there is too much weight on the back. Also if you are noticing red marks on your child’s shoulders after removing the backpack means there is too much strain in that area. Lastly, if your child is having trouble removing or getting the backpack on, it can be a sign that it’s even too heavy for your child to lift by hand.

What to Look for in a Backpack

As the sizes of textbooks continue to increase year-to-year, your child will need a padded backpack with two wide straps. Although the one sided backpacks may be stylish and easy to put on, it does not support the weight evenly. In order to reduce the weight on the shoulders, you also want to make sure the backpack never hangs 4 inches below the waist. A strap around the waist is also recommended by many chiropractors because it distributes weight more evenly - reducing pressure on the back. Look for a backpack that has compartments, where children can not only organize their supplies, but also organize books from heaviest to lightest, with the heaviest books closest to the back.

Style

When you walk into a school hallway, you are bound to find various types of L.L. Bean and assorted backpacks. Beyond their bright colors and monogramming, these backpacks are designed for specific age groups, which have different sizes, strap lengths and waist belts. It is obvious that backpacks are not a “one size fits all” type of deal, so finding a backpack that corresponds with your child’s age is very important. Although these backpacks are made to last throughout the years, L.L. Bean’s Senior Designer, Pam Jones finds that students often change backpacks every two years, as the child is growing and also increasing school workloads. Jones also recommends that parents should keep an eye on their children’s supplies. “Parents can help by monitoring loads. Empty packs out once a month and re-evaluate the load. You'll be amazed at what you find in there.”

As school is quickly called back into session, it’s important for parents to pay attention to what’s happening both in and out of the classroom. Although school supplies and textbooks are imperative to your child’s education, don’t forget to monitor their effects on your child’s health to ensure a safe and fun school year.