Posted 10:45 pm Monday, August 30, 2010
Poor Choice Can Cause Kids Back Pain
Children frequently visit emergency rooms across the country due to acute injuries from backpacks according to The American Academy of Pediatrics. These injuries range from back problems to lacerations on the face due to a child tripping over a backpack.
Choose a backpack that is best for your child’s size recommend experts.
“It’s kind of like car seats, really whichever one works best for that child,” Patrice Dunagin, county extension agent for family development, said. “Parents should fit the backpack to them (the child) and think about how many books they’re going to be bringing home.”
“It’s kind of like car seats, really whichever one works best for that child,” Patrice Dunagin, county extension agent for family development, said. “Parents should fit the backpack to them (the child) and think about how many books they’re going to be bringing home.”
Consider choosing a canvas or mesh backpack versus leather. Leather backpacks are heavier.
“You want the backpack itself to be really light,” Ms. Dunagin said.
Carrying backpacks that are too heavy can cause strain to the neck, back and shoulders. Doctors and physical therapists recommend carrying no more than 10 to 15 percent of body weight in backpacks. This means that if you weigh 120 pounds, your backpack should weigh no more than 12 to 18 pounds. Use the bathroom scale to weigh your child’s backpack to get an idea of what the proper weight for your child feels like.
Remind children to bend their knees when picking up their backpack, don’t bend over and pick backpack up with back muscles.
“Pediatricians also recommend that parents should pay attention if their child is complaining of back pain when the child has been carrying a heavy backpack,” Ms. Dunagin said. “It’s a good sign that they may need to change to a different type of backpack that distributes weight better.”
Ms. Dunagin said choose a backpack that has two wide padded straps and make sure your child places the backpack on both shoulders. Thin straps may dig into the shoulders cutting circulation and causing pain, numbness or tingling of the arms and hands.
“If you (ladies) think about when you carry your purse and it’s heavy what a strain it puts on that shoulder and you move it to the other shoulder,” she said. “So are the kids. If carrying lots of books, they’re putting a strain on their back and shoulders.
Experts said parents should purchase backpacks that have a waist belt and multiple compartments to help distribute weight evenly across the body. A rolling backpack also is an option, even though they will have to be toted upstairs. Encourage your child to make several trips to their locker throughout the day instead of hauling six or seven books to each class.
If your child has to have multiple books some should be toted in their arms to balance the weight.
Carrying backpacks that are too heavy can cause strain to the neck, back and shoulders. Doctors and physical therapists recommend carrying no more than 10 to 15 percent of body weight in backpacks. This means that if you weigh 120 pounds, your backpack should weigh no more than 12 to 18 pounds. Use the bathroom scale to weigh your child’s backpack to get an idea of what the proper weight for your child feels like.
Remind children to bend their knees when picking up their backpack, don’t bend over and pick backpack up with back muscles.
“Pediatricians also recommend that parents should pay attention if their child is complaining of back pain when the child has been carrying a heavy backpack,” Ms. Dunagin said. “It’s a good sign that they may need to change to a different type of backpack that distributes weight better.”
Ms. Dunagin said choose a backpack that has two wide padded straps and make sure your child places the backpack on both shoulders. Thin straps may dig into the shoulders cutting circulation and causing pain, numbness or tingling of the arms and hands.
“If you (ladies) think about when you carry your purse and it’s heavy what a strain it puts on that shoulder and you move it to the other shoulder,” she said. “So are the kids. If carrying lots of books, they’re putting a strain on their back and shoulders.
Experts said parents should purchase backpacks that have a waist belt and multiple compartments to help distribute weight evenly across the body. A rolling backpack also is an option, even though they will have to be toted upstairs. Encourage your child to make several trips to their locker throughout the day instead of hauling six or seven books to each class.
If your child has to have multiple books some should be toted in their arms to balance the weight.
