HOUSTON – (Aug. 9, 2010) – Many children are
carrying backpacks that are far too heavy than they should carry on their back and
are thus vulnerable to more injuries.
"A loaded backpack should be light enough for a child to walk or stand up straight
without leaning forward or to the side," says Dr. William Phillips, chief of Texas
Children's Orthopaedic Surgery Center and Scoliosis Clinic. "Backpacks should be
no heavier than 10 to 15 percent of your child's body weight. That means that if
your child weighs 80 pounds, the backpack should weigh no more than 8 to 12 pounds."
When carried correctly, a backpack is easier on the back and shoulders than carrying
a briefcase or purse. That's because the strongest muscles in the body, the back
and the abdominal muscles, support the weight of the load. A backpack worn using
both the shoulder and hip straps is less likely to cause neck and shoulder pain
because it helps distribute weight more evenly across the body.
To help your child avoid the neck and back strain caused by heavy backpacks, try
these tips:
- Buy a backpack with padded shoulder straps
and a hip strap
- Pack heavy items in the pack closest to
the body
- Teach your child to lift heavy objects by
bending at the knees and lifting with both legs
- Use both backpack shoulder straps over both
shoulders; slinging it over one shoulder increases the risk of back and shoulder
pain
- Adjust straps to fit snugly around your
child's shoulders and hips with weight carried no lower than two to four inches
below the waist
- Carry a smaller load, if possible
- Encourage your child to participate in a
regular exercise routine to gain overall strength and stamina
Parents also can prepare for a healthy school year by ensuring their child has healthy
sleeping habits, eats a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and is mentally prepared
to go back to school.
Get more back to school tips.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing
the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for
its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas
Children's is ranked in the top 10 best children's hospitals by U.S. News and World
Report. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric
care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas
Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes
a neurological research institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing
on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. Get the
latest Texas Children's news on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/texaschildrens.
