Backpacks are common around schools and universities, and some schools even allow their students to carry their bags throughout the day. Although backpacks are very helpful tools, they can also be dangerous to the developing spine. Backpacks are responsible for chronic back pain in many students and they can also cause neck and shoulder pain as well. In order to help avoid unnecessary injury, parents should make sure to teach their children how to properly use a backpack.
1. Be selective when buying a backpack.
There are many packs on the market, but not all of them have the right features. A healthy backpack has wide, padded shoulder straps to help prevent nerve damage caused by thinner straps. It also has a waist belt that is used to help distribute the load across the body. Another feature to look for is a padded back side to prevent the edges of binders and books from poking or scraping the child’s back.
2. Do not substitute a backpack for a locker.
The small window of time between classes is a social opportunity for kids. These precious few minutes are spent talking with friends, and students do not want to waste this opportunity by visiting their lockers after every class. Therefore, many kids carry all their textbooks and other supplies needed for several classes in their backpack at the same time. This makes for an extremely heavy load. Backpacks should only be used to carry the supplies for one or two classes, and the weight of the bag should not exceed 10-15% of a child’s body weight. If a scale is not handy, you can determine if the bag is too heavy by watching the child try to wear it. If they have to lean forward any degree, the load is too heavy.
3. Pack correctly.
The way that the bag is packed also has an influence on the load. Experts recommend that students place heavy books and binders in the part of the bag that is closest to their backs. Smaller items such as pencils and calculators can be stored in outer pockets that are further away from the child. Using a backpack that features many different pockets for organization can help kids remember to pack wisely instead of simply tossing everything inside one central pocket.
4. A good fit.
Even if parents buy their child the best backpack on the market, it can still cause back problems if it is not worn correctly. A loaded backpack should not sag away from the body while it is carried. Shoulder and waist straps should be adjusted so that the pack rests comfortably against the child’s back. Many kids think that it looks better when the bag sags and they loosen the straps as far as they will go. However, parents should warn their kids about the potential problems that this may create.
5. Proper technique.
Some back and neck injuries occur when the bag is not lifted onto the shoulders properly. Children should be taught to pick up and set down their backpacks by bending at the knees instead of at the back. They should also use two hands to lift the load instead of slinging the heavy pack onto their shoulder using one hand.
Students use backpacks for eight hours per day, five days per week. Although backpacks may not seem dangerous if they are used incorrectly during these long periods of time they can be very harmful to a child’s physical development. Parents should take a stand for backpack safety and ensure that their children use their packs in a safe manner.
