Last year over 3,300 children age 5-14 was treated in emergency rooms for this back-to-school related activity when it could have been avoided by seeing a properly trained chiropractor! Many parents don’t know what it is and how they can avoid it happening to their child?

It’s an exciting time for millions of children and parents all overr the world. After a well deserved summer vacation, it’s time to head back to school. And what does back to school mean to most moms and dads? Shopping! This includes school supplies, notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, the latest fall fashion clothes and one of the hottest trends of the last few years which is backpacks.

Backpacks are a popular item. Millions of elementary, middle, and high school students are heading to their classes with overstuffed backpacks slung over their shoulders. While carrying a backpack to school every day may seem harmless enough, but it can cause painful neck and back problems and injuries for students who don’t pack or carry their backpacks properly. Those heavy loads can cause repetitive stress injuries and spinal pain that will worsen with age and may last a lifetime.

Some studies actually say that if they are used improperly, they are outright dangerous and can cause permanent damage to your child’s spine, possibly leading to herniated discs and arthritis.

Here are some shocking back pain and back pack facts: The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that more than 3,300 children aged 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms last year for injuries related to backpacks. Backpack-related injuries are up 256 percent since 1996. According to researchers at the University of Michigan spine program, up to 60 percent of children will experience back pain by the time they reach age 18. An Auburn University study shows heavy backpacks may be a serious threat to spinal development. In their survey sample, the average pack was 17% of the child’s body weight. This is the equivalent of a 150 lb. adult carrying a 26 lb. pack. 67.2% of the children studied suffered muscle soreness, 50.8% back pain, 24.5% numbness and 14.7% shoulder pain. Studies at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center also show overloaded backpacks as the cause of shoulder or lower-back pain and poor posture in kids.

A research study published in the journal named Spine found that six percent of 10-year-olds complain of back pain. Ten to fifteen percent of twelve year olds reportedly had back pain. A new scientific experiment found that transporting a backpack alters the mobility of spinal bones. This leads to restricted movement which is a risk factor for the cause of back pain.

Another study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the effect of backpacks on the intervertebral discs of the spine. These are the fluid-filled “pillows” between spinal bones. According to the article, backpacks alter the fluid content of these discs, a risk factor for disc herniation and osteoarthritis.

There is new research that reveals an alarming danger associated with childhood backpack use. This research stems from the growing number of reports of childhood back pain in recent years. By the end of their teen years, 60% of youths experienced at least one back pain episode. New research indicates that this increase may be due to the improper use of backpacks in children. Research presented at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s annual meeting in San Francisco stated that children carrying a load of twenty five percent of their body weight had balance problems and were more likely to experience injuries from falls.

It’s obvious from all the research that it can be dangerous and can cause damage to your child’s spine if they are not used properly. One of the biggest safety hazards with backpacks is overloading them with many books. Many children are carrying up to 40 lbs. and are hurting themselves. If your children are feeling headaches, neck pain, poor posture, achy and strained muscles, low back pain, muscle spasms, tingling hands, and increased scoliosis complications, they are probably carrying too much weight improperly.

Your children should carry at a maximum of 15% of their body weight on their spine. Here are a few backpack weight guide lines to go by. A child weighing 40 pounds should carry no more than six pounds. A child weighing 75 pounds should carry no more than 11 pounds. A child weighing 100 pounds should carry no more than 15 pounds. A child weighing 125 pounds should carry no more than 18 pounds. A child weighing 150 pounds should carry no more than 22.5 pounds.

Here are some more helpful tips on wearing backpacks correctly. Make sure the weight is distributed evenly throughout the back. It helps to put the heavier objects on the bottom of the backpack and this keeps the weight off the shoulders and improves posture. Have your child wear both shoulder straps over the shoulders unless there is a specially designed backpack that is designed to use only one strap across them. Lugging a weighty backpack using one strap can shift the weight to one side which can lead to misaligned spinal bones, neck and muscle spasms, low back pain and walking improperly. Get a backpack with softly padded straps. Straps that are not padded will dig into your shoulders and cause pain and injury. If the back pack comes with a waist strap, ensure that it is used.

Many injuries in the spine occur from simply lifting the pack off the ground. To avoid this, make sure your child always lifts with their legs bent and their backs straight up. Do not bend forward.
It is also advisable to make sure that your children only take what they need to school. The extra weight adds up fast and can injure their developing spines.

Last and most important, make sure your child has their spines checked by a chiropractic office to make sure their spine is in proper alignment and they are not setting themselves up for permanent injury. You can even bring them in with their backpacks and a good chiropractic office will make sure that they fit correctly.

Learn more about backpack safety. Stop by the chiropractic site site where you can find out all about chiropractic care and what it can do for you.