Dear Editor:
More than 40 million students carry backpacks. About 20 million carry in those packs more than the recommended weight. This backpack “overload” sent over 3,000, ages 5-14 to hospital emergency rooms in 1999 for injuries related to backpacks.
These numbers are expected to rise as schools around the country, for security reasons, remove or restrict access to lockers, forcing students to rely more heavily on backpacks to carry books and personal belongings.
“Studies have shown a direct connection to headaches, neck and shoulder pain with overloaded or ill-fitted backpacks. The body has to compensate for the change in its center of gravity caused by the backpacks added weight. The spine in particular, can be affected as it twists and bends to reposition this added backpack weight,” says Dr. Matthew A. Stralka, DC, director of the Vital Energy Wellness Center in Hoboken. Another problem associated with backpack overload is a condition called “Rucksack Palsy.” A heavily loaded backpack causes the shoulder straps to compress delicate nerves, arteries and veins passing underneath. This can lead to numbness and tingling in the arms.
Help is on the way. A new international organization, Backpack Safety for Kids, was recently formed in an effort to raise the awareness of local communities to the health dangers overloaded backpacks can present to children. “Local health care professionals must work together with parents, school officials and children to identify backpack problems and their solutions.” Says Dr. Joseph Ventura, Executive Director of Backpack Safety for Kids, “Our organization works directly with local doctors to establish Backpack Safety Days in schools and to offer free backpack analysis in the doctor’s office.” For more info call Dr. Stralka at 201-659-5617.
Dr. Matthew A. Stralka, DC