Spinal Compression Can Be Caused by Your Backpack

A new, troubling trend among children is a recurrence of back pain, a trend which is already widespread among adults. One culprit is overweight backpacks — their misuse is now commonly associated with back pain in children.

The number of children who carry disproportionate weight in their backpacks is staggering. It's a common sight: a heavy bag, usually slung over a person's shoulder. The study indicated that the average backpack, for a male child, is comparable to that of a 176-pound man. For a woman, the figure weighed in at around 132 pounds. Not unsurprisingly, 60 percent of the children who carry these backpacks did, indeed, experience associated back pain.

In an initial study, the relationship between the length of time a person continuously wears a heavy backpack was found to correlate with the time it takes to correct the resultant spine curvature or deformity.

School districts have taken notice of the issues centered around backpack usage, especially as many schools have already removed lockers from their halls; this gives children no choice but to lug heavy books around. At present, the ACA recommends that children not carry more than 10 percent of his or her body weight.

What You Can Do

• The ACA has come up with recommendations to prevent the occurrence of backpack-associated back pain.
• Ensure the backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of your child’s body weight. Anything heavier will make your child bend forward to support the weight on her/his back, instead of relying on the shoulder’s straps.
• The backpack should be no more than four inches below the waist. Backpacks that fall any lower run the risk of causing your child to compensate by leaning forward.
• Too large and pointed items in the backpack should be placed away from your child's back.
• Refrain from purchasing large backpacks. They can coax your child to pack in more things inside it, which naturally adds to the weight and overload.
• Teach your child to use both straps when wearing a backpack. This will minimize neck and muscle spasms and help prevent back pain. Wearing only one strap continually will place too much stress on one side.
• Get wide, padded straps. Straps without pads are not only uncomfortable; they can also press into your child’s shoulders.
• Adjust the shoulder straps so that they are fitted properly. If straps are too loose, the backpack could unnecessarily sway, causing pain and spinal misalignment.
• Talk to your child's teacher and enlist his/her help in spacing assignments so that the heaviest books do not have to be carried around everyday and only hand-outs and the lighter books are taken home.
• As recommended by ACA, avoid buying rollerpacks, or backpacks on wheels, unless you have no other option, e.g., your child is not physically able to carry a backpack. Rollerpacks can be difficult to maneuver and may cause falls.
  
  

Chiropractic Help
If back pain is being experienced by you or your child as a result of carrying backpacks, contact your chiropractic doctor. Chiropractors are professionals who are trained and licensed to diagnose and treat back pain in people, regardless of their age bracket.

Chiropractic doctors are also able to recommend an exercise regimen to help the development of strong muscles in children, offer advice on healthy sleeping and posture habits, as well as nutritional counseling.