Backpack Misuse & Chronic Back Pain

Backpack Misuse & Chronic Back Pain

• Created inNewsletter Library,Back, Body & Joint Pain

Back pain is pervasive among American adults, but a new and disturbingtrend is emerging. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlierthan previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributingfactor, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). In fact,according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the use of bookbags or back carriers resulted in over 6,500 injuries in 2000 alone.

Over the past 10 years, the chiropractic profession is noticing a markedincrease in the number of young children who are complaining about back,neck and shoulder pain. This new back pain trend among youngsters isn’tsurprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight theycarry in their backpacks— often slung over just one shoulder. A 2002study conducted in Italy found that the average child carries a backpackthat would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man,or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavybackpacks to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result.

Other studies have shown that slinging a backpack over one shoulder couldexacerbate the curvature of the spine in scoliosis patients.

According to the ACA, preliminary results of studies being conducted showthat the longer a child wears a backpack, the longer it takes for a curvatureor deformity of the spine to correct itself. The question that needs tobe addressed next is, Does it ever return to normal?

The results of these types of studies are especially important as moreand more school districts— many of them in urban areas— removelockers from the premises, forcing students to carry their books with themall day long.

What Can You Do?

• Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent ofhis or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bendforward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, ratherthan on the shoulders, by the straps.
• The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline.A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders,causing your child to lean forward when walking.
• A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contentsmost effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed awayfrom the area that will rest on your child’s back.
• Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack,the more your child will carry— and the heavier the backpack willbe.
• Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack aroundby one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side,leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
• Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable,and can dig into your child’s shoulders.
• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fittedto your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpackto dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.
• If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Askif your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring homeonly lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.

What We Can Do for You…

If you or your child experiences any pain or discomfort resulting frombackpack use, call your doctor of chiropractic. Doctors of chiropracticare licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages andwill use a gentler type of treatment for children. In addition, doctorsof chiropractic can also prescribe exercises designed to help childrendevelop strong muscles, along with instruction in good nutrition, postureand sleeping habits.