About Arbor Lakes Chiropractic
Backpack Safety Information
It is
time to get ready for the kids to go back to school, so that means it's also
time to heighten
your awareness of the problems of heavy backpacks. With larger schools, students don’t have time to get to their lockers
to exchange books - so they are carrying all their books for the day, all day.
Over the last 10 ten years,
this
has caused the weight of
student packs to become
alarming. It is estimated that 60%
of all students will experience back pain due to the weight of their backpacks.
It is recommended that students only carry 10-15% of their body weight,
but research shows that students are routinely carrying up to 30%.
Our
goal is to educate parents on the facts of backpack injuries, safety tips on how
to prevent injuries and how to properly use backpacks.
We
recommend Airpack backpacks (click here to go to their
homepage).
These backpacks have air packs in the straps and in the lumbar to transfer
the weight off the upper back and onto the lower back. These backpacks can reduce
spinal stress by 80% and lighten the load by 30%.
You will also find out how to properly fit a backpack at their website.
Please
take this seriously. The weight of
students' backpacks are becoming alarming and are causing serious spinal problems
that can last a lifetime. If you
have questions, please call Arbor Lakes Chiropractic at
(763)
494-4311. We will be happy to help you.
Backpack Safety Tips
-
Make sure the backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized. 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.
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Consider more than appearance when choosing a backpack. An ill-fitting pack can cause back pain, muscle strain, or nerve impingement. 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.
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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.
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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. Put the heavier items on the bottom to keep the weight off of your shoulders and maintain better posture.
-
Often ignored is the act of lifting and positioning the pack. Lifting 20 pounds improperly can cause damage. Follow these simple steps:
Face the backpack before you lift it.
Bend at the knees.
Using both hands, check the weight of the pack.
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Carefully put one shoulder strap on at a time. Never sling the pack onto one shoulder.
-
Use both shoulder straps. Make them snug but not too tight. Carrying the backpack on one shoulder, while fashionable, can cause long-term neck, shoulder, back, and postural problems. Use the stabilizing waist strap around the waist.