Children's Health Children's Health Basics

Packing Up: Think about Backpack Safety

For children, one of the most exciting parts of starting the new school year is going to the store to buy all new school supplies. But with all the textbooks, notebooks, pencils and pens, that new backpack you just bought can leave your child hunched over and aching.

The fact is, backpacks can be great for carrying books, but they can also weigh down your child, putting him or her at risk for serious problems.

"Wearing backpacks improperly or ones that are too heavy put children at increased risk for spinal injury," says Mary Ann Wilmarth, director of the transitional doctor of physical therapy degree at Northeastern University in Boston.

So, before you load your child up, check to be sure that your child's backpack is designed for comfort. It should have:

• A padded back. This reduces pressure on the back, shoulder and under the arms.
• Belts across the hips or chest. These transfer some of the weight in the bag from the back to the hips, torso and shoulders.
• Multiple compartments. Besides making it easier to find things, having many pockets helps your child distribute the weight in the bag evenly.
• Reflective material. This will ensure that your child is seen when walking at night.

But even if you do buy the perfect backpack, your child still has to wear it correctly and not put too much inside. Wilmarth looked at changes in children's postures when wearing backpacks and found that when a bag weighs more than 15 percent of the child's own weight, they are more likely to lean forward excessively to compensate for the weight. A too heavy pack can also strain the muscles and soft tissues in the neck, shoulders and back, leaving them more vulnerable to injury.

"Back pain is already the most common ailment among working American adults. If we don't correct the backpack issues that are causing children back pain, the issue will become magnified in years to come," Wilmarth said.

So, check that your child is wearing the bag properly. Make sure he or she is:

• Wearing both straps. This ensures that the weight in the bag is distributed evenly over the back. Using only one strap can cause the body to lean. Even bags with one strap that crosses the body can put too much strain on one shoulder.
• Removing the bag carefully. Your child should keep his torso stable and not twist too much when taking off or putting on the bag.
• Wearing the bag over the mid back. This is where the strongest back muscles are located. Make sure that the straps of the bag are tight enough to allow the bag to lie flat on the back, but still allow the child to freely move his or her arms.
• Carrying only what is needed. Make sure the bag weighs less than 15 percent of your child's bodyweight. Take out anything that can be left at home, and make sure the heaviest items in the bag are closest to the back.