Most Backpacks Are Too Heavy For Most School Children
Most Backpacks Are Too Heavy For School Children.
You see it every school day. School children who are slightly
hunched over, carrying a backpack on their backs.
The concern is how heavy these backpacks are, especially for
Children. They have to hunch forward a bit many times under
The weight and do this dozens of times per day.
A recent study suggests that children may be doing themselves
Harm.
Fifty-five percent of the Massachusetts children surveyed by researchers
at Simmons College typically carry loads heavier than 15 percent
of their body weight - the limit recommended by the American Academy
of Orthopedic Surgeons.
One-third of the 345 children in grades 5 through 8 surveyed reported
back pain that forced them to see a doctor, miss school or skip
athletic activities. Because children are still developing, they
are more susceptible to injury.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that
in 1999, more than 800 youngsters were treated in emergency rooms
for backpack-related injuries.
Perhaps you should review with your child the best ways to carry
the backpack. What will help? Obviously not to overload the backpack.
Perhaps putting in only what is needed for a couple of hours at
school and then going back to the locker for the next batch.
They should not put the backpack strap over one shoulder and not
the other. Using both straps on the pack is good for weight distribution.
Some do have a hip belt as well and use of this is recommended
by health professionals. Packs designed with metal frames are
good as well, although not really popular among most school aged
children.
If your child has been carrying a heavy back pack or complains
of back problems, pain or headaches, it would be wise to take
him/her to a Chiropractor to have an analysis of the spine and
it's alignment as a part of making sure that your child stays
healthy.
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Article written by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac. Jeannie Crabtree has
been a Health Practitioner for the last 20 years and is a Certified
Acupuncturist and Total Body Modification therapy Practitioner.
Jeannie publishes Healthy Solutions newsletter. She shares health
answers that work, tips, nutrition suggestions and research. You
can subscribe To Healthy Solutions by visiting http://www.health-doc.com
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