Boston University Back to School Tip of the Week- from B.U. professor of Occupational Therapy and president of the AOTA- Karen Jacobs
Backpacks and kids: Don't Make Your Kid a Backpack Beast of Burden
Everywhere you look, kids are using backpacks to carry their books, lunch, gym clothes and other school-related material to and from school. It is not unusual for these backpacks, when full, to weigh 20, 30, or even 50 pounds! That is a lot of weight for some children to carry. Needless to say, an increasing number of children are beginning to complain of pain in the neck and shoulder, and sometimes, their arms from the weight of their load. Adding to the situation is the manner in which children carry the pack slung over one shoulder or that some of the schools are limiting access to lockers during the school day which prevents kids from monitoring their load.
The top of the shoulder where the straps of a backpack rest is rich in nerves and blood vessels that serve much of the rest of the body--head, arms and h ands, neck and back. Excessive weight of a backpack can lead to a number of health problems for a child.
Karen Jacobs, professor of Occupational Therapy at B.U.'s SARGENT college and president of the American Occupational Therapy Association, recommends the following tips for kids and backpacks:
* The weight of the backpack should not exceed 15% or the child's body weight (a 50 pound child should carry a backpack weighing no more than 7 and a half pounds) * Both straps should be worn across the shoulders and upper back to equalize the weight and prevent shoulder, neck and back problems * Padded straps are ideal * Considers alternatives such as, luggage carts or backpacks with wheels
WARNING SIGNS Be alert for any of the following warning signs that indicate that your child needs to be seen by a health professional, including and occupational therapist:
* Aching in the shoulders, neck and back
* Pain or tingling in the arms, wrist and hands, especially at night
* Muscle weakness
* Red marks and creases on the shoulder
* Struggling to get the backpack on and off
* Noticeable imbalances in the child's posture, including tilting the head and neck to one side and an uneven gait.
For more back to school tips, check out the web site: http://www.bu.edu/news/backtoschool99/ or feel free to call pr representative, Shauna LaFauci, at 617/353-2399 for additional information.
RSS