OVERLOADED BACKPACKS POSE PAINFUL BURDEN

(Beaufort, SC) For many students the expression “carrying a heavy load” has taken on a new meaning-one that could lead to permanent spinal column damage. The problem, according to Dr. McKelvey of Optimal Health Chiropractic the local representative of Backpack Safety America ™, is overloaded and improperly carried backpacks shouldered by thousands of school children as they trudge their way to and from school.
“Children’s spines are forced forward and out of their healthy position due to the pressure of overloaded backpacks. Some children are carrying upwards of 30-40 pounds in their packs. Unfortunately, it is not just the weight alone that is a concern. Often, backpacks are slung over just one shoulder or the packs are just not very well balanced. The purpose of Backpack Safety America ™ is to call attention to a problem that is only going to get worse unless we correct it in our children’s early school years,” says Dr. McKelvey.
Optimal Health Chiropractic, in conjunction with Backpack Safety America ™, has produced a backpack safety video and posters. They are being donated free of charge to each of the local Elementary and Middle Schools to help educate children about how to do everyday activities in biomechanically correct ways so that they do not end up with spinal repetitive stress injuries later in life.
Dr. McKelvey likens the problem of spinal column damage some children have suffered due to misusage of backpacks to that experienced industrial accidents. “We need to do the same thing in the schools that we do in factories, warehouses and offices – and that is to have a comprehensive educational program that brings together all of the different elements of potential risks and solutions. The fact is that a workforce educated on injury prevention is less likely to be injured on the job.”
Dr. McKelvey said, “The typical backpack might contain textbooks, binders, calculators, personal computers, sports equipment, electronic games and more. Common sense tells us that a heavy load, distributed improperly or unevenly, day after day, is indeed going to cause stress to a growing spinal column. It is like the old adage says ‘as the twig is bent, so grows the tree’. What originally motivated us to start our program was that I began seeing a growing concern with parents about the improper use of backpacks and the scarcity of instructional and preventative information available to young people.”
Dr. McKelvey is also seeing an increase in the number of patients as young as grade school levels, who are suffering non-traumatic back pain. This pain is not because of an accident or injury, but from the stress of either carrying too much weight in a backpack or not wearing the backpack properly.
Until now, there wasn’t anyone out there teaching that it is smart to carry a backpack correctly. This is why Dr. McKelvey really felt the need to tell children at an early age that this is an important issue, which could eliminate a lot of pain and grief later in life.

Dr. McKelvey offers the following basic backpack safety tips:

▄ Make sure the backpack is sturdy and appropriately sized. Some manufacturers offer a special child-sized version for children age 5 to 10. These packs weigh less than a pound and have shorter back lengths and widths so that they do not slip around on the back.

▄ Consider more than looks when choosing a backpack. An ill-fitting backpack can cause pain, muscle strain or nerve impingement. You want to have padded straps to avoid pressure on the nerves around the arms. Some backpacks have waist straps designed to stabilize the load. These should be used whenever possible.

▄ The proper maximum weight for loaded backpacks should not exceed 15 percent of the child’s body weight. For example, an 80-pound child should not carry more than 12 pounds in a pack. Also, if the packs load forces a child to bend forward, it is too heavy.

▄ In loading, it is obvious that excessive backpack weight can cause problems. Prioritizing the pack’s content is very important. Avoid including unnecessary items. It is important to balance the weight of the contents or the body will shift into unnatural postures to compensate.

▄ Often ignored is the act of lifting and positioning the backpack. To avoid lifting a pack improperly and causing damage follow these simple steps: 1) Face the backpack before you lift it.
2) Bend at the knees.
3) Using both hands, check the weight of the pack.
4) Lift with your legs, not your back.
5) Carefully put one shoulder strap on at a time.

▄ Use both shoulder straps. Make them snug but not too tight. Carrying the backpack on one shoulder, while fashionable, can cause long-term neck, back and postural problems. And always remember to use the stabilizing strap around the waist.

For additional information, contact:
Dr. Michael McKelvey
Optimal Health Chiropractic
Beaufort, SC 29902
(843) 524-4325
www.optimalhealthchiropracticsc.com