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| Health Tips > Back Packs |
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Going back to school should not be a pain |
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Children can avoid injury by choosing, packing, lifting and carrying the correct backpack.
TORONTO – August 11, 2005 – It's that time of year again, when children and parents descend on the local mall for their annual back to school shopping excursion, and backpacks are often at the top of the shopping list. Ontario's back specialists are urging parents to take the time to carefully select a correct and safe backpack for their children. "Carrying a poorly designed or overloaded backpack can place excessive weight on a child's growing spinal column. This kind of daily stress and strain can lead to serious back pain, changes in posture and gait, and potential irritation and injury of the spine, joints, and muscles," said Dr. Dean Wright, President of the Ontario Chiropractic Association (OCA). The OCA continues to spread the word about backpack safety to students, parents, and teachers through its public education program called "Pack It Light. Wear It Right." This program provides material such as posters, information sheets, activity sheets, and a video that outlines how to pack, lift, carry, and choose a backpack. "An increasing amount of children are experiencing backpack-related injuries," said Dr. Kristina Peterson, chair of the OCA's Public Awareness Programming Committee. "Both children and parents need to know that this kind of injury can be prevented by keeping some simple tips in mind when shopping for a new backpack." |
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Backpack tips |
Size is everything
Choose a backpack that is proportionate to body size and not larger than needed. The top of the backpack should not extend higher than the top of the shoulder, and the bottom should not fall below the top of the hipbone.
It's all in the material
Select a backpack made of lightweight material (vinyl or canvas instead of leather).
Strap it up
The shoulder straps should be at least two inches wide, adjustable, and padded. Ensure that they do not cut into or fit too snugly around and under the arms. |
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Going back to school should not be a pain say back specialists |
A little bit of padding
A backpack should have a padded back for added protection and comfort. Pack the oddshaped items on the outside, so they don’t dig into the back. Pack it Right
Evenly distribute contents and pack the heaviest items closest to the body, this reduces the strain as the weight is closer to the body’s centre of gravity.
Hug your hips
A hip strap or waist belt helps to effectively redistribute as much as 50 to 70 per cent of the weight off the shoulders and spine onto the pelvis, balancing the strain on the bones, joints, and muscles.
More pockets please
Choose a backpack that has several individual pockets instead of one large compartment, this will help to distribute the weight evenly and keep contents from shifting.
Weight a minute!
Backpacks should never exceed 15 per cent of a secondary school child’s body weight or 10 per cent of an elementary school child’s body weight. Wheels and handles
Explore other backpack options such as a backpack with wheels and a pull handle for easy rolling. |
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