Ground Report

Do you know backpack can cause serious damage to your kids? Maybe you have seen your child struggling to put it on. And sometimes bending forward. Then you must be concerned about the extra load your kids are carrying. This additional weight can cause damage to your child still growing body. Choosing the right backpack for your kids is not easy. If your kids carry a backpack for a long time in a wrong way then it can cause injury.  According to prof. Amit Gefen of TAU’s Department  of Biomedical Engineering Pressure of a heavy  loaded backpack can cause serious damage to the soft tissues of the shoulder. Human body is made of bones that are called vertebrae. Between these, there is disk as shock absorber. If shoulder is loaded with a heavy backpack in wrong way the weight force can pull the body backward. That can cause the spine to compress. Back pain is a  common problem for those who carry backpack wrong way. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission around 14000 children are treated every year for backpack related injury which sends around 5000 children to emergency room.  There are some sign you have to look in your kids. If you see these types of sign then your child might be having a problem with his backpack.

Problems that can happen

1. He/she can lean to one side
2. Your kid  can bend forward at the waist
3. He/she might have trouble standing up
4. Does the backpack create pain in back
5. Struggle to get backpack on or off

What you have to do ?

If you see these sign in your kids then their backpack might be troubling so you must consider changing it. But how you will choose a backpack for your kids ? Next time you buy a backpack you need to be careful

1. Go for a backpack with padded strap
2. According to The American Physical Therapy Association backpack weight should be less than 20% of your kids weight
3. Make sure your kids wear both straps
4. If possible then carry only the item that is necessary
5. Make sure backpack is made with lightweight material
6. Fill all the compartment that will distribute the loaded
7. Use a backpack that has safety features like hip belt
8. You can choose a backpack with wheels
9. If your kid carries a lot of stuffs then the lightest object should be at the bottom of the backpack.

Remember: You must confirm your kids use both straps. Choosing a big backpack is not a good idea at all. Make sure your kids carry only the items he needs for school. You can help your kids to arrange the item he/she need for school.

You will get many alternatives to the traditional backpack and you can choose from there.  You must choose a backpack that suits your kids.