Clark, Perdue & List's Blog

You may not know that last month this country observed National Backpack Awareness Day. Why? Because backpacks--that is heavy backpacks--are the surprising cause of numerous injuries.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, of the 40 million U.S. students that use backpacks, 3 out of 10 carry one that weighs 33% of the student's weight at least once a week. The recommended maximum is only 15% of the person's weight.

Six out of 10 students ranging in ages 9-20 have reported chronic back pain from carrying heavy backpacks. In 2001, in excess of 7,000 emergency room visits resulted from carrying backpacks or book bags, with more than half of that number involving treatment to children ages 5 to 14.

But a study has shown that nearly 8 of 10 middle school children who changed how they loaded and wore their backpacks noticed decreased pain in their backs, necks and shoulders. That's part of the message that 24 occupational-therapy OSU graduate students wanted to impart to the students of the Hastings Middle School in Upper Arlington when they visited there recently. The OSU students performed skits and weighed the Hastings students and their backpacks. In addition, they gave them the following advice:

• Heavier items should be placed in the back of the pack, closest to the body;
  
• Limit your packing of items to what is necessary for the day;
  
• Load books and other items in such a manner as to minimize their sliding around;
  
• Lighten a backpack that is too heavy by carrying some of the items by hand;
  
• Always use both shoulder straps, which should be well-padded and adjusted so that the pack fits snugly against your back;
  
• If the pack has a waist belt, use it to better distribute its weight; and
  
• Consider using a pack with wheels, if you find that it consistently weighs more than the maximum 15% of your weight.