It’s that time of year when the leaves start to change, the weather begins to cool and kids across the nation are back in school.
At the beginning of a new school year, every kid loves to pick out a new backpack. Backpacks have been a topic of concern for parents over the years. It seems almost every year we hear conflicting statements about the safety of children’s health surrounding backpacks.
Backpacks come in various shapes, sizes and designs. Each and every style will affect a child’s back differently, so I want to address important concepts so that you can make the right choice.
Just the other day I was listening to a radio show and an expert claimed that children carrying backpacks over one shoulder was a serious problem. Claims were then made that this leads to present and future back pain and that the child should switch to a roller backpack (a backpack with wheels.) So does this expert’s opinion stand up to scrutiny?
Ultimately the answer is no. In fact carrying a backpack on a single shoulder can be therapeutic. When medical studies have been performed in some of the best research laboratories in the world, we have learned that the body doesn’t do well with any single position or activity over a long period of time. For example we always hear sitting up straight in a chair is better than slouching when trying to prevent back pain.
The fact is both postures over an extended period of time are equally as detrimental. The real way to minimize pain while sitting is to change positions frequently. The same is true for wearing a backpack over one shoulder.
Taking things a step further, if a child wears a backpack full of books over a single shoulder and periodically switches sides; you’ve taken a perceived danger and changed it into a daily training exercise for better back health and performance that can translate into sports. A roller backpack does not exclude a child from potential problems if he or she constantly pulls the bag with the same arm.
Dr. Jason Hulme operates Active Spine and Joint Center in Hendersonville. Visit ActiveSJC.com or call 537-5520 with comments or questions.
