Lighten the Load

With the academic season well under way, we see many children carrying heavy backpacks to and from school. For some children it is mainly books, for others it is band instruments and sports equipment. These items can weigh alot, and the majority of the weight is supported by your children's back.

There have been many studies done that have reported that children are carrying too much weight on their backs. One study found that backpacks triggered back pain in nearly half of the 237 children that were involved in their study. Many of the children only carried their backpacks approximately 5 to 15 minutes a day.

The study gave several suggestions to help protect your child's back:

• Choose a backpack that has two wide padded straps that go over the shoulder. Make sure your children put both arms through the straps, not just one.
• Monitor what your children carry. The total weight should not be more than 10 percent of a child's body weight.
• Teach your children to pack the heaviest books closest to their backs.
• Coach your children to go to their lockers as often as possible to minimize the time that they are carrying their books.

Teaching your children these health tips to lighten their load will benefit their back as an adult. You might also want to look at the weight of your purse and briefcase. Are you modeling good health habits there for your children?

I'll write again next week.

Gina