To Your Health
May, 2007 (Vol. 01, Issue 05)
While children may think nothing of carrying their backpack slung over one shoulder, the truth is that this fashion statement is damaging to the developing spine. When carrying a pack on one side only, one shoulder is required to carry a burden that both shoulders and the back should be sharing equally. The only proper way to carry a backpack is with both straps over the shoulders and the backpack resting against the lower back.
Function vs. Fashion
The first priority in purchasing a backpack is to select function over fashion. This recommendation may be easier said than done, but it's an important one. Years of wearing a backpack in the "fashionable" way will undoubtedly lead to improper spinal alignment, poor posture, and eventually pain, for your children.
Here are a few criteria to consider when choosing a safer, more functional backpack for your children:
The general consensus is that a backpack exceeding 10 percent to 15 percent of a child’s body weight can inflict physical damage over time.
- The backpack should fit properly (not too long or too short).
- It should have wide, padded, adjustable straps (for proper positioning on the shoulders and back).
- A backpack with a hip strap or lumbar pillow provides additional protection. The hip strap, when used, can distribute a portion of the weight to the hips, easing the load on the spine and shoulders. The use of a lumbar pillow will provide the necessary back support to the lumbar region, where the greatest portion of weight is being carried.
The bottom line: When shopping for a backpack, consider that the more support features on the backpack, the less spinal stress your child will carry.
Think Twice About Roller Bags
Are roller bags the solution? Although one might think a roller bag would be the answer to the problem - by taking weight off your child's spine and shoulders - it should be noted that an empty roller bag may weigh up to 80 percent more than an empty backpack. Furthermore, these bags run larger, inviting your child to overload the extra space as much as 50 pounds. Although these bags will be rolled, don't forget that a child (and their developing spine) is still at risk when lifting the bag up or down stairs, or retrieving it from the back seat of the car.
So remember, with the current school year coming to a close and a new one just months away, remember that when it comes to choosing a backpack, think function before fashion. Your child's health depends on it.
Claudia Anrig, DC, practices in Fresno, Calif., and is on the board of directors of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, an organization that can answer your questions regarding the value of chiropractic care during and after pregnancy.