The Back-To-School Burden—

Ergonomic Backpacks Help Lighten The Load

By Kaaren Valenta

As students prepare to head back two school, medical authorities want parents and students to know about the potentially serious health risks from school backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) are among the groups that have been working to educate the public about these risks, which have led to proposed legislation in at least two states addressing the issue of backpack weight in relation to student health.

More than 40 million schoolchildren in the United States carry backpacks, and more than half of them may be carrying too much weight, health authorities warn. The AOTA says children carrying overloaded and improperly worn packs could experience neck, shoulder, and back pain; adverse effects on posture and the developing spine, and compromised breathing and fatigue.

Two years ago, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported backpack related injuries send almost 6,000 students each year to emergency rooms.

Newtown resident Terry Stoller became concerned about this issue two years ago when her daughter was entering fifth grade.

“I was taking her to the bus stop because her backpack was so heavy, and the walk was uphill,” Ms Stoller said. “I started talking to other parents about it, so I know I was not alone in my concern.”

So in November 2003, when Ms Stoller was attending a PTA convention in New York, she was excited to find a solution.

“There was a big buzz on the convention floor,” she said. “It was all about ergonomic backpacks. I decided this was exactly what I needed for my daughter, so I bought one.”

When her daughter brought it to the bus stop, the backpack was an instant hit.

“Everyone saw it and wanted one, so I called the company and ordered five of them,” Ms Stoller said. “I jokingly said the company should make me a sales rep, and they thought it was a good idea.”

Ms Stoller had worked as a technical manager for the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) but she became a full-time mom after marrying Gary Stoller, an investigative journalist for USA Today, having two children, and moving to Newtown eight years ago. 

Now, excited about the AirPacks System backpacks that she had discovered, Ms Stoller formed a company, Smart Packs, to be a distributor.

“When I went to my bank on Queen Street to open an account for the company, I sold five of the backpacks in the bank,” Ms Stoller said.

She liked the fact that the backpacks are sturdy and well made, with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty for defects, and a 30-day “comfort” warranty. She sells the eight styles of backpacks, $38 to $59 depending on the model, 15 percent below the suggested retail, and also sells ergonomic pocketbooks for adults who have been known to get bursitis in the shoulder from carrying heavy shoulder bags and briefcases.

While she liked the idea of starting her own business, Ms Stoller said she was motivated by the need to spread the message about backpack problems.

Most students carry more than the 15 percent of their body weight, which is the maximum weight recommended by The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). An Auburn University study reported that nearly 70 percent of children surveyed suffered muscle soreness, 50 percent experienced back pain, 25 percent numbness, and another 15 percent shoulder pain from carrying their backpacks.

There is growing evidence that backpacks may threaten good spinal development, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Legislation has been proposed in California and New Jersey to require school boards to manage school backpack weight.

Backpack Strategies

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following tips for a child’s backpack:

Do not overload the backpack. A heavy backpack forces the wearer to bend forward.

Do not buy a backpack that hangs more than four inches below the waistline. Backpacks that hang too low increase weight on the shoulders.

Use both shoulder straps, unless the pack is ergonomically designed for use on one shoulder. Carrying a heavy backpack using only one strap can shift the weight to one side, which can lead to muscle spasms, low back pain, and walking improperly.

Use a waist/hip strap to distribute weight evenly between the back and the hips.

Look for padded and adjustable shoulder straps to prevent straps from digging into the shoulder. 

Distribute the weight evenly. Place heaviest items closest to the back, but be sure pointed or sharp objects are pointed away from the back.

Use proper lifting techniques: bend at the knees and use your legs to lift the backpack placing one shoulder strap on at a time.

Make frequent trips to the locker between classes to replace books.

The AAOS said students also could consider backpacks on wheels, but these present their own set of potential hazards in crowded school hallways, and going up and down steps. Students often wind up lifting the backpack with one hand, risking a rotor-cuff injury.

Terry Stoller said AirPacks have a number of special features that distinguish them from other backpacks. They have air sacks in the shoulder straps and lumbar area that disperse weight, correct posture and make the load feel lighter and more comfortable. The AirPacks’ “S”-shaped shoulder straps help correct posture and allow the wearer to stand up straighter, providing significantly better support. The backpacks have sizing clips at the shoulders and waist to provide an individualized fit, and shoulder strap anchors to distribute the weight correctly whether worn on one shoulder or two.

The backpacks come in many sizes and styles to fit children of different ages and sizes, plus colors and features that appeal to children.

Ms Stoller said above all, parents should pay attention to three critical points: size matters, fit matters, and weight matters.

“The size of the backpack should mirror your child’s back,” she said. “Don’t put your child in a backpack that is too big.”

“A backpack should be fitted to the individual wearing it so that it ‘hugs’ or ‘mirrors’ the back,” she said. “Don’t let the backpack drop low off the hips, hang from one shoulder, or cause slouching.”

And above all, pay attention to how much the backpack weighs, she said.

“Don’t let your child carry more than 10 to 15 percent of his body weight. Use a bathroom scale to weigh your child and his backpack and make adjustments.”

Terry Stoller’s Smart Packs AirPacks can be seen and purchased at The Drug Center of Newtown and at the community flea market sponsored by the Newtown Congregational Church at Fairfield Hills on Saturday, August 21.

For more information, call Ms Stoller at 364-0255 or email Smartpacks@cs.com.