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Back Packs and Back Pain
I
can tell you based on experience that there is a relationship between
back packs and back pain. Every year I have people coming
into my clinic with their kids who have back pain. I know when I was
growing up, back pain amongst my class mates was unheard of. These days
all kids have back packs of all different makes and sizes to carry a
seemingly increasing amount of textbooks and homework. With a little
education and choosing the right back pack, luckily, a lot of this pain
can be avoided.
Some
evidence in the literature
supports the hypothesis that back pain in children is correlated with
back pain in adulthood. Some of the signs of difficulty managing a back
pack are shoulder, neck or low back pain, and occasionally pins and
needles sensations in the hands.
Balance can also be compromised when
wearing a back pack that is too heavy leading to falls.
Recent
studies have shown that
loads as light as 15% of a child's body weight can significantly alter
posture and spinal curvature, thereby putting strain on growing bones
and ligaments. A Study done at Queen's University in 2009
using
instruments that measure spinal curvature amongst 15 ten year olds
wearing back packs in various positions found that when the back pack
is not positioned properly it can have a significant effect on trunk
and head posture. Initial findings suggest load should be placed lower
on the back1.
Numerous
factors contribute to the
onset of pain, namely the weight of the back pack, the amount of time
the child wears the back pack, the child's height relative to the
weight of the back pack, the perceived weight of the back pack, and the
strength of the wearer. A review of the current literature strongly
suggests the weight be limited to no more than 10-15% of body weight,
but of course factors such as backpack design and physical fitness also
influence the adaptations necessary to carry a backpack.
The
Canadian Physiotherapy
association provides recommendations for choosing a back
pack.
Wide curved shoulder straps, padded back, several compartments,
compression straps to stabilize objects in the pack, and a hip belt are
beneficial. Students tend to prefer backpacks that are more
fashionable, various colours or sizes, those that disrupt their clothes
less. It is difficult to convince children and teenagers that they need
to focus on what is safe rather than what looks good.
Children
need to pack only those
items they absolutely need, and position the heaviest items in the
bottom of the pack closest to the body. Both shoulder straps should be
worn over both shoulders to distribute weight evenly across their
back. Shoulder straps should fit tightly to avoid movement of
the
bag and a waist belt helps to distribute the weight closer to their
centre of gravity.
1.
Brackley HM, Stevenson JM, Selinger JC Effect of backpack load
placement on posture and spinal curvature in prepubescent children.
Work 2009;32(3):351-60
For
information on choosing the
appropriate back pack click on the following article:
http://www.greatlakes-physiotherapy.com/choosing-a-back-pack.html
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