Monday 17 November 2008
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Monday 1 September 2008
UC San Diego Research Confirms Certain Backpack Positions Painful, Damaging
Back to School Reminder: Kids Should Go for Safety, Not Style!
UC San Diego Research Confirms Certain Backpack Positions Painful, Damaging
School children across the world may speak different languages but there is one experience an estimated 90 percent of all students share: wearing a backpack. Researchers from the University of San Diego, California School of Medicine say those students also share a common problem: low back pain due to overloaded backpacks.
The results of their research, published in the July/August edition of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, correlated pain associated with using a backpack with two main factors: the magnitude of the backpack load and the manner by which children distribute the load over their shoulders and back.
“The optimal position for wearing a backpack is high on the upper-back, with straps over both shoulders,” said Alan Hargens, Ph.D., professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “Kids who wear their backpacks in the more ‘stylish’ lower back position, or only use one strap, may suffer shoulder pain and posture problems.”
Previous research by Hargens showed that even in the high back position, pressure build-up under the straps could occlude blood flow and that pressures were higher on the right shoulder than left shoulder.
This most recent study quantified the pressure under backpack straps while children carried a typical range of loads under varying conditions.
“What’s interesting here is that, contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the weight of the backpack, but how it’s carried,” said Chambers. “And, the pain generated is not just on the back. It includes the pressure on the skin, which causes nerve pain similar to that tingling sensation caused when a leg or arm falls asleep.”
Ten healthy children (5 boys, 5 girls), ages 12 to 14 years, wore a backpack loaded at 10, 20, and 30 percent body weight (BW). The children carried the backpacks in two positions: low on the back or high the on back and pressure sensors measured strap pressure on the shoulders.
When walking with the backpack straps over both shoulders, contact pressures were significantly greater in the low-back position than in the high-back position. And regardless of carrying position, contact pressures on the right shoulder were always higher than those on the left shoulder.
On average, children load their backpacks with a weight equal to between 10 and 22 percent bodyweight. When the children put on a loaded backpack, they attributed 46 percent of the loading pain to the lower back and approximately 15 percent to the shoulders.
“It’s possible that our subjects alter their posture by elevating the right shoulder, thus increasing the contact pressure on that shoulder,” pointed out Hargens. “If those postures are practiced over a long period of time, with more weight and pressure on one shoulder, it may alter posture and produce prolonged pain. We need to study this further.”
Advice from researchers to parents and kids is simple: when it is necessary to carry heavy backpacks, carry them in a high-back position, using broad straps, to spread the load, and to minimize point pressures. Wear backpacks above the hips and maximize contact between the backpack straps and upper body. If the backpack has a waist-strap, use it.
“Following these recommendations may require conscious effort from the kids, encouragement from parents, peers, and school staff, until it becomes habitual,” said Murthy. “Although professionals and parents cannot often dictate what children should carry, it is important for us to educate them so they carry the packs correctly.”
Researchers agree this study supports the standard set by the American Academy of Orthopedics which suggests children carry a backpack weighing no more than 15 percent of their body weight.
“Parents also need to check what their children are carrying. We found that quite often it’s not just books and school work that’s weighing them down… but iPods and laptop computers and other things they may not need to carry to school everyday,” said Chambers.
UC San Diego Research Confirms Certain Backpack Positions Painful, Damaging
School children across the world may speak different languages but there is one experience an estimated 90 percent of all students share: wearing a backpack. Researchers from the University of San Diego, California School of Medicine say those students also share a common problem: low back pain due to overloaded backpacks.
The results of their research, published in the July/August edition of the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, correlated pain associated with using a backpack with two main factors: the magnitude of the backpack load and the manner by which children distribute the load over their shoulders and back.
“The optimal position for wearing a backpack is high on the upper-back, with straps over both shoulders,” said Alan Hargens, Ph.D., professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “Kids who wear their backpacks in the more ‘stylish’ lower back position, or only use one strap, may suffer shoulder pain and posture problems.”
Previous research by Hargens showed that even in the high back position, pressure build-up under the straps could occlude blood flow and that pressures were higher on the right shoulder than left shoulder.
This most recent study quantified the pressure under backpack straps while children carried a typical range of loads under varying conditions.
“What’s interesting here is that, contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the weight of the backpack, but how it’s carried,” said Chambers. “And, the pain generated is not just on the back. It includes the pressure on the skin, which causes nerve pain similar to that tingling sensation caused when a leg or arm falls asleep.”
Ten healthy children (5 boys, 5 girls), ages 12 to 14 years, wore a backpack loaded at 10, 20, and 30 percent body weight (BW). The children carried the backpacks in two positions: low on the back or high the on back and pressure sensors measured strap pressure on the shoulders.
When walking with the backpack straps over both shoulders, contact pressures were significantly greater in the low-back position than in the high-back position. And regardless of carrying position, contact pressures on the right shoulder were always higher than those on the left shoulder.
On average, children load their backpacks with a weight equal to between 10 and 22 percent bodyweight. When the children put on a loaded backpack, they attributed 46 percent of the loading pain to the lower back and approximately 15 percent to the shoulders.
“It’s possible that our subjects alter their posture by elevating the right shoulder, thus increasing the contact pressure on that shoulder,” pointed out Hargens. “If those postures are practiced over a long period of time, with more weight and pressure on one shoulder, it may alter posture and produce prolonged pain. We need to study this further.”
Advice from researchers to parents and kids is simple: when it is necessary to carry heavy backpacks, carry them in a high-back position, using broad straps, to spread the load, and to minimize point pressures. Wear backpacks above the hips and maximize contact between the backpack straps and upper body. If the backpack has a waist-strap, use it.
“Following these recommendations may require conscious effort from the kids, encouragement from parents, peers, and school staff, until it becomes habitual,” said Murthy. “Although professionals and parents cannot often dictate what children should carry, it is important for us to educate them so they carry the packs correctly.”
Researchers agree this study supports the standard set by the American Academy of Orthopedics which suggests children carry a backpack weighing no more than 15 percent of their body weight.
“Parents also need to check what their children are carrying. We found that quite often it’s not just books and school work that’s weighing them down… but iPods and laptop computers and other things they may not need to carry to school everyday,” said Chambers.
Sunday 24 August 2008
Sunday 20 July 2008
Parents Weigh Your Childrens Bags Every Week!
Parents should weigh their children's school bags at least once a week. Many are unaware of the amount children are expected to carry to and from school. Children should be encouraged to empty and reload their bags on a daily basis to prevent unwanted items causing extra weight.
It is not unusual to find children carrying as much as 50 percent of their total body weight in their school bag and this could cause major back problems into adulthood.
If your child is carrying too much address the issue with the school, under health & safety legislation the school is responsible for the health and safety of not just the employees but also others on the premises. This little known fact could be used to persuade schools to act on this growing problem.
It is not unusual to find children carrying as much as 50 percent of their total body weight in their school bag and this could cause major back problems into adulthood.
If your child is carrying too much address the issue with the school, under health & safety legislation the school is responsible for the health and safety of not just the employees but also others on the premises. This little known fact could be used to persuade schools to act on this growing problem.
Monday 30 June 2008
Thursday 26 June 2008
Thursday 12 June 2008
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Friday 6 June 2008
Thursday 29 May 2008
Monday 5 May 2008
Tuesday 29 April 2008
Monday 21 April 2008
THE FACTS
40LB (18KG) is the weight that the British Chiropractic Association calculates is carried by many secondary school children. This is the equivalent of a grown man carrying a microwave full of food on his back!
15% is the maximum recommended average percentage of a child’s body weight to be carried in his or her school back pack
13% of 10-16 year olds suffer recurring back pain. Even worse 8-10% (that is 2-3 children in every class) suffers from chronic back pain sufficiently bad to compromise sport, attendance, self-esteem, relationships and ultimately, their future quality of life*
There is no specific health and safety legislation limiting the weight that children in school can carry. There is however health and safety legislation protecting adults in the workplace.
SPI ® School bags are designed to protect the spine and promote posture improvement. A correctly fitting backpack is the safest way for children to carry their school books. Invest in your childs future, a future without backpain. http://www.ergonomicschoolbags.co.uk/
Sunday 20 April 2008
Protecting Young Backs
Research shows that up to 30% of teenagers are affected by back pain, close to the adult level. In 8% of students(two to three in a class) the condition is severe enough to affect school attendance, concentration, ability to play sport, relashionships and well being. There is evidence to show that adolesecent back problems persist into adult life.
Many children have no access to a locker at school and may be carrying more than 30% of their body weight in school bags. Health and safety legislation protects adults in their place of work, specifiying for example what kind of seats they sit on, how much weight they are allowed to carry, etc. No such laws protect children in school, their place of work. Much school furniture would be deemed illlegal in an office
Many children have no access to a locker at school and may be carrying more than 30% of their body weight in school bags. Health and safety legislation protects adults in their place of work, specifiying for example what kind of seats they sit on, how much weight they are allowed to carry, etc. No such laws protect children in school, their place of work. Much school furniture would be deemed illlegal in an office
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