As kids prepare to head back to school, doctors reveal heavy backpacks have to go
Fox News
As back-to-school time approaches for students — or has already begun, in many areas — doctors share tips for parents and kids about overweight backpacks and the damage they can do.
"She was picking up a backpack of books and going from classroom to classroom throughout the day and then carrying the bag to and from school." Heavy backpacks can change the natural curve of the spine, affecting the child’s ability to maintain an ideal posture. "It may not be so much which backpack to select as much as proper fit and proper load." "The heavy load of many books can cause the students to lean forward and have rounded shoulders, increased thoracic kyphosis and a protracted cervical spine." When picking up the backpack from the floor, it is important kids bend at the knees so that they avoid increased strain on the lower back. Use all compartments and place the heaviest books/items closer to the spine. Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
How much of a toll?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says an estimated annual average of 7,500 kids under 19 years old were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to backpacks from 2017 to 2019.