One of the most pervasive health issues plaguing adults in the United States is back pain. But there is a surprising and quite disturbing trend that is rising these days among teens and even children.

Lately there has been a new increase in the number of complaints by young children suffering from severe back pain. The most noticeable factor that contributes to this troubling occurrence, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), is the use of overweight school backpacks.

A member of the ACA’s Council on Occupational Health, Dr. Scott Bautch, also noticed the marked increase in the number of children who complain of chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain.

The new trend of back pain among juveniles is a cause for concern, especially when you take into consideration the disproportionate amounts of weight that these youngsters carry in their school backpacks.

Most of them have even formed the unfortunate habit of slinging their weighty bags over one shoulder.

A study that was conducted in Italy showed that an average child carries a backpack with a disproportionate amount of weight.  At least 60 percent of the children carrying backpacks to school every day had experienced or complained of back pain as a result.

According to the member of the ACA’s Council on Occupational Health, other preliminary results of several studies performed in France indicate that the longer a youngster carries a heavy backpack, the longer it takes for a deformity or curvature of the spine to correct itself.

Why are the results of these types of studies so relevant? They are essential because many school districts have opted for the removal of lockers from their premises.

This has led or virtually forced students to have no choice but to carry their heavy books with them all day.

This back-pain problem among youngsters has become incredibly far-reaching that some states have even passed legislation which has made some school districts to develop several ways by which the weight of students’ backpacks can be drastically reduced.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) believes that when the weights of backpacks are be limited to no more than 10 percent of a youngster’s body weight.

The use of ergonomically-correct backpacks will also go a long way in minimizing such back-pain complaints among youngsters.

Is There Anything You Can Do?

Yes, there is. The ACA offers the following health tips with the hope of preventing the occurrence of unnecessary and unwarranted back, neck, and shoulder pain that the misuse of backpacks has caused students:

When a backpack is too heavy, your child will be forced to bend or lean forward in an attempt to balance and support the weight on his or her back.  Therefore, ensure that your child’s backpack does not weigh more than 10 percent of his or her body weight at all times.

Never allow your child to use a backpack that hangs more than 4 inches below your child’s waistline.  When a bag hangs too low, it adds more pressure or weight to the shoulders. This will cause your child to lean forward when walking, leading to the deformity of the spine over time.

Always encourage your child to wear both straps of their backpacks. This prevents the disproportionate shifting of weight to one side when the bag is carried on one shoulder, which could lead to neck and muscle spasms.

Make sure you only buy backpacks with wide, padded straps for your child to use. This is because thin and non-padded shoulder straps can dig painfully into your child’s shoulders, making him or her pretty uncomfortable.  Get a good backpack with individualized compartments, which will help you to position its contents more evenly.

Conclusion

When you minimize the weight of your child’s backpack, there will be a significant reduction in the number of complaints about back and neck pain experienced by youngsters.  If you notice your child’s one shoulder is higher than the other or they are saying their neck or shoulders hurt, don’t wait!  Give us a call at (908) 221-0808 to set up a time to have your child checked for spinal misalignments before it becomes a more serious problem.  We hope that these tips will help your child erase any poor posture that occurs due to heavy backpacks or improper wearing of backpacks.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child please call or ask us next time you visit the office.