RE: backpacks

May 16, 2002

Thanks for the info.

Working on an advatorial for our IPA and

printing in the fall of 2002

DrBob

W. Pfeiffer,D.C.;D,A.B.C.O.

P. O. Box 606

Pendleton, Or. 97801

Fw: UCA

Update - Backpacks on! Schoolchildren's perceptions of load.

Doctors:

I thought you might be interested

in this for the purposes of discussions with parents.

DeShaw, D.C., J.D.

Backpacks on! Schoolchildren's perceptions

of load.

Negrini S, Carabalona R.

Spine 2002 Jan 15;27:187-95.

STUDY DESIGN: A

cross-sectional study was conducted.

OBJECTIVES: To

investigate schoolchildren's subjective perceptions of their daily backpack

loads, to ascertain whether an association exists between these sensations or

the load itself and spinal problems, and to identify the school, family, and

personal factors that determine the backpack load, and that might, with a view

to primary prevention, be addressed with specific interventions.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Backpack

carrying has been shown to constitute a considerable daily

" occupational " load of the spine in schoolchildren. Although society

perceives backpack carrying as a problem, the scientific community currently

offers very few answers. The backpack load borne by schoolchildren exceeds,

proportionally, the legal load-bearing limits set for adults.

METHODS: All the

backpacks of the 237 year 6 children in a school catchment area of Milan were

weighed on six school days. The data were analyzed in groups according to the

schools and classes involved, the single children, and the days of the week. A

validated questionnaire also was administered to 115 schoolchildren (54 boys

and 61 girls; average age, 11.7 years) whose anthropometric characteristics and

loads carried daily were known. The associations among features of backpack

carrying, subjective perceptions of the load (fatigue, feeling it to be heavy,

discomfort) were assessed and verified.

RESULTS: School

backpacks are felt to be heavy by 79.1% of children, to cause fatigue by 65.7%,

and to cause discomfort by 46.1%. Fatigue during and time spent backpack

carrying, but not the backpack's weight, are associated with discomfort. The

determining factors were found to be classes (e.g., range, 8.87-10.59 kg), days

of the week (e.g., range, 5.75-12.74 kg.), and single students (e.g., range,

4.2-9.5 kg.), but not individual schools.

CONCLUSIONS: Daily

backpack carrying is a frequent cause of spinal related problems for

schoolchildren. There is an association between this load and discomfort,

although the relationship is not direct. The results suggest the existence of

personal physical and psychological factors that need to be investigated.

Reduction of the daily backpack load borne by schoolchildren is recommended

both on the basis of the current results and because it exceeds,

proportionally, the legal load limits set for adults. All the different parties

involved (school system, parents, children) play a role, and if the aim is to

reduce this " weight of culture, " all should be targeted through

specific interventions. Recommendations are supplied for the achievement of

this aim.

(Spine 2002;27:187-195.)

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April 26, 2005

They cant roll them because they are too heavy to carry up and down stairs,

then. And some schools wont allow rolling backpacks for the reasonon of the

stairs.

April 26, 2005

They cant roll them because they are too heavy to carry up and down stairs,

then. And some schools wont allow rolling backpacks for the reasonon of the

stairs.

April 26, 2005

In a message dated 4/26/2005 3:18:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

linman42@... writes:

And some schools wont allow rolling backpacks for the reasonon of the

stairs.

Another reason some schools won't allow them is they don't fit into lockers

easily.

Cari

April 26, 2005

In a message dated 4/26/2005 3:18:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

linman42@... writes:

And some schools wont allow rolling backpacks for the reasonon of the

stairs.

Another reason some schools won't allow them is they don't fit into lockers

easily.

Cari

April 26, 2005

One interesting note. A few years ago there was an article in the Auburn

University student newspaper on the number of visits to the student health

clinic with complaints of back pain, and how they had directly related it to

heavy back packs, and not carrying the backpack correctly. They showed candid

pics of students on campus with heavy packs slung over one shoulder, or over

both, but also very low slung on the back. They had pics of the right way to

wear it, snug, higher on the back. Never saw a follow up, so don't know if the

article had an impact.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (13, DS) and , (9)

South Carolina

April 26, 2005

One interesting note. A few years ago there was an article in the Auburn

University student newspaper on the number of visits to the student health

clinic with complaints of back pain, and how they had directly related it to

heavy back packs, and not carrying the backpack correctly. They showed candid

pics of students on campus with heavy packs slung over one shoulder, or over

both, but also very low slung on the back. They had pics of the right way to

wear it, snug, higher on the back. Never saw a follow up, so don't know if the

article had an impact.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (13, DS) and , (9)

South Carolina

April 26, 2005

Why not have the students roll their backpacks? My son rolls his so it

does not impact his back.

~ Thanks!

Kim

re: backpacks

One interesting note. A few years ago there was an article in the

Auburn University student newspaper on the number of visits to the

student health clinic with complaints of back pain, and how they had

directly related it to heavy back packs, and not carrying the backpack

correctly. They showed candid pics of students on campus with heavy

packs slung over one shoulder, or over both, but also very low slung on

the back. They had pics of the right way to wear it, snug, higher on

the back. Never saw a follow up, so don't know if the article had an

impact.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (13, DS) and , (9)

South Carolina

April 26, 2005