Children and Backpack Safety

Today we have a new school bully and it’s not another student or an outsider. No, your new enemy is a product you supply to your child. Their backpack is the new school bully.

Backpacks are used for 12 -18 years while in school and are the number one culprit for spinal conditions in our youth. 

As parents, we need to be aware of the potential damaging effects the backpack has on the spine and what we can do to prevent these issues.  Common symptoms that result from a child carrying an over-stuffed backpack are headaches, neck, upper back and mid-back pain, arm numbness, shoulder pain, and fatigue. Future health issues can be as serious as chronic spinal issues, spinal misalignments, disc injuries or arthritis.

The University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that 55% of children are carrying more than the recommended natural guidelines of weight in their backpacks.

The University of Michigan reports that by age 18 many children will experience some type of back pain associated with improper backpack usage.  Since so many young people are over loading their backpacks, it is essential that parents become educated on how to purchase and properly fit backpacks. Safety starts with knowing how much weight is too much.

Student's Body Weight              National Guideline                          Backpack Weight  

50 lbs.                                                  10- 15 %                                           5 to 7.5 lbs.

80 lbs.                                                  10- 15 %                                           8 to 12 lbs.

100 lbs.                                                10- 15%                                            10 to 15 lbs.

130 lbs.                                                10- 15%                                            13 to 19.5 lbs.

This simple formula takes a child’s weight and multiplies it by .15 to determine the ideal backpack weight.

Teach your child how to select, wear, pack, and lift a backpack to eliminate injuries. Then visit your family chiropractor to have your child properly fitted for their pack.

1. Pick an appropriate backpack to fit your child’s body weight and body size, not the amount of books to be carried.

Be sure shoulder straps are wide and padded to avoid digging into the shoulders.  Avoid bags with one strap, they do not provide a balance of the weight over developing spines. 

2. Make all adjustments to an empty backpack to eliminate injury while fitting. Adjust the shoulder straps to be short enough to keep the bag hanging no lower than 4 inches over the child’s waistline. If the bag hangs lower than 4 inches it will cause extra weight on the shoulders, which causes the child to lean forward while walking. This can cause spinal injuries and postural issues.

3. Load the heaviest books to the back against your spine keeping the weight close to the body.  If the bag has side pockets distribute weight evenly in each side.

4. When putting the full backpack on, put the pack on a counter and face the straps forward. Back up to the counter and reach one arm into the pack bending your knees and support the pack while slipping the other arm into the other strap.

 5. If you must carry more than 15% of your body weight, carry it in your arms to prevent extra stress applied to the spine.

 This healthy back article is provided by Dr. Kulp, who presents educational programs on backpack injury prevention to schools, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations.