Backpacks and Back Pain – Is Your Child at Risk?

Posted on March 10, 2010
Filed Under Back Pain Treatment | Leave a Comment

Backpacks and back pain - Wearing a back pack may put your childs spine at risk.

Photo: (c) kingvald

About 90% of kids wear backpacks. Have you ever wondered what this does to your child’s spine?

A new study, published in the Jan 1 issues of Spine found that heavy backpacks can damage children’s spinal discs, increase spinal curvature and cause back strain (and pain).

According to press materials, the study took MRIs of kids wearing different backpacks weighing up to 26 pounds. The researchers added 10, 20 and 30 percent of the childrens body weight with backpack weight and measured spinal changes.

Most of the time, backpacks range between 10 and 22 percent of a child’s weight.

As the backpacks got heavier, the childrens intervertebral discs became more compressed. Wearing back packs also increased abnormal side to side curves, beginning at 18 pounds. At 26 pounds, kids needed to adjust their posture to accommodate the pack.

Unfortunately, the negative effects of wearing a heavy backpack may carry over into adulthood. Children with back pain are at a greater risk for back pain during adulthood. This post has a few tips for how to minimize the pain.

_Source:

_{Press Release. Heavy Backpacks Affect Children’s Spines. Newswise. Jan 27 10.}

| Tips for Wearing Backpacks | Back Pain | Scoliosis |

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Backpacks and Back Pain – Is Your Child at Risk? originally appeared on About.com Back & Neck Pain on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 11:08:16.

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