BACKPACK BURDENS

Brittany Morelan, 8, at left, Nicole Ottersburg, 9, and Kristan Snider, 6, slung their backpacks over their shoulders. The girls were leaving Clippard Elementary School Thursday afternoon.

Children who carry backpacks often face the same risk of strained back muscles as adults, claims the American Occupational Therapy Association.

In fact, the therapists association recently released a fact sheet to alert parents to the dangers of children carrying overloaded backpacks.

Therapists say children are carrying heavier backpacks at increasingly earlier ages and face the same risk of repetitive strain injuries as adults, especially if they are not carrying their backpacks properly.

Health warnings haven't affected sales that much according to Michelle Heider of Toys R Us.

The younger set stills wants a backpack that depicts the latest cartoon character or what's most popular with the kids such as Barbie and wrestling figures. Older students opt for more durable packs such as Jansport or Eastpak which are more in line with hiking backpacks.

The larger the backpack, the more kids try to cram in them. Elementary students are often able to get books, their lunch, a recess toy and show-and-tell items into their packs. The advantage, they don't carry it around all day.

This isn't true of the older kids.

Sue Marchbanks, a nurse at Central Junior High, says she usually sees a few kids complaining of back and shoulder pain toward the end of the school year. After ruling out the obvious such as a fall or other injury, a heavy backpack often turns out to be the cause of the trouble.

"This year I've seen more kids carrying the packs with both straps in place instead of just over one shoulder," she said. This is a definite health improvement.

David Pfanstiel and Jared Dewrock, 8th graders, both carry fairly heavy backpacks but for different reasons.

"I try to carry all the books I need for the classes on one floor," said David. That way he doesn't have to go up and down the stairs to his locker between classes.

"I'm just too lazy to go to my locker," said Jared, "besides, it's good exercise carrying all that weight."

Carrying all that weight may be good exercise, but only if done properly. Wear both straps and put the heaviest items closer to your back.

Many students have learned the proper way to carry their packs because of recent news specials and cartoons which promote backpack safety.

Some alarm signals of a pack that's too heavy are aching in the shoulders, neck and back; pain or tingling in the arms, wrists and hands (especially at night); muscle weakness; red marks and creases on the shoulders; and a noticeable imbalance in posture.