The Business of Aching Back Pain

ARE BACKPACKS ATTACKING YOUR BACK? How Backpacks Harm Students and How to Ease the Problem It's pretty difficult to get through school without a backpack. Other options, like purses or rolling backpacks, can be too small or inconvenient to get around with. But back pain is a growing problem for students loaded down with stacks of textbooks, computers, snacks and more. Learning the source of the problem offers hope for relief. WHO'S HURTING AND WHY 79 MILLION number of U.S. students who carry backpacks. =1 million 23 THOUSAND number of emergency room, physician's office, and clinic visits for injuries caused by backpacks in 2007. =D1 thousand Highest risk for backpack pains: girls ages 11-16 This is likely because of the 2 out of 10 students with backpacks that weighed no more than 15% of their body weight reported pain. Kids who carry between backpacks at 10-30% al growth spurt occurring at this age. of their body weight experience painful pressure from backpack straps. in the United States, more than 37% 92% of 11-14 year olds say they experience back pain. of kids carry backpacks that are 10-22% 22% ---- ---- 10% of their body weight. 30-50% of adolescents have back o e of their 55% of students haul more than 15% 6 out of 10 of kids miss out on sports and other school functions each year from backpack-related pain. 10-19% of their body weight as their backpack load. students aged 9-20 report their backpacks give them constant back pain. Adults carrying a backpack at 10% of their body weight for 30 minutes 30 couldn't completely recover from pain/stress after another half hour without the pack. Backpacks change the curve and ability of the spine to restore its position; this increases the chances of injury to the spine even when not wearing a pack. DO'S AND DON'T'S OF BACKPACK WEARING HOW TO CHOOSE DO DON'T A BACKPACK 4IN. Wear your backpack close to the center of your back. This reduces muscle strain. Wear your backpack more than 4 inches below the waist. Any lower and you'll lean forward. Backpacks with padded backs decrease stress on the back, Wear both straps. shoulders and underarms, as well as enhance comfort. Wear only one strap. This puts uneven pressure on Adjust shoulder straps to allow children ease of one side of your body. (This is also true of backpacks with one strap that Look for backpacks with chest and/or hip belts: this moves some of the weight off the back getting the backpack on and off, and for range of motion in their arms. crosses your body.) Twist too much when taking your backpack on and off. Bring only what you need. Walk between home and school, if you can avoid it. The extra time spent carrying the pack increases the risk of back pain. Put the heaviest pieces next to the back: this reduces Make sure there is some reflective material on the the issues that upset posture and muscles. backpack, so the wearer can be seen at night. Maximize the backpack load at 10-15% Buy a backpack with many individual pockets to ensure even distribution of weight, security of the items within, and ease of 15% 10% of body weight. getting to the items. 10-15% OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT: IDEAL RANGE FOR BACKPACKS BACKPACK RANGE BENEFITS OF WEARING A BACKPACK CORRECTLY Almost 8 out of 10 middle-schoolers who were educated on and changed the way they packed and carried their backpacks reported less overall pain and stress in their backs, necks, and shoulders. 60 10 60 - 75 15 100 18 125 TREATMENT Anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy are common treatments for backpack-related pain. 20 150 200 or more Person's Weight (in pounds) Max. Backpack Weight (in pounds) Sources: [1http://blog.al.com/living/2011/08/back-toschool burden 79 milli.html ( Courtesy of The American Occupational Therapy Association Inc.) [2]http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/715981 (3http://www.promoteot.org/Al_BackpackFlap.html [4]http://ohsonline.com/articles/20o8/07/heavy-backpacks-injurethousands-annually-cpsc.aspx Ishttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/piSo1698141000564 [6]http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServletlaccno-ED497784 I7http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID-65 CARRINGTON COLLEGE For comprehenstve consumer information: httpo//carrington.edu/cc/programs/pharmacy-technology © 2011 Carrington College