Backpack Awareness: One of Many Ways That Occupational Therapists Serve Students
By Ashley Opp Hoffman
“The training occupational therapists have in body structure, body mechanics, and purposeful activity give us tools to help students with everyday problems like heavy backpacks,” says Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA. “But that is not the only ergonomic issue we can help students with. Because occupational therapy practitioners understand how the body and mind work together, they often consult on ways to use technology and computers to compensate for or overcome learning disabilities. Therapists consult with teachers and evaluate children’s attention and fine motor skills to determine solutions to problems such as weak handwriting or lack of organizational skills.
The American Occupational Therapy Association has published ten tips to avoid backpack-related health problems:
1. Never let a child carry more than 15% of his or her body weight. This means a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn't wear a backpack heavier than 15 pounds.
2. Load heaviest items closest to the child's back and arrange books and materials to prevent them from sliding.
3. Always wear both shoulder straps. Wearing only one strap can cause a child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing pain or discomfort.
4. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Too much pressure on shoulders and necks can cause pain and tingling.
5. Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back, never more than four inches below the child's waistline.
6. Use the waist belt, if the backpack has one, to help distribute the pack's weight more evenly.
7. Check what your child carries to school and brings home to make sure the items are necessary to the day's activities.
8. If the backpack is too heavy, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child's school allows it.
9. Choose the right size pack for your child's back as well as one with enough room for necessary school items.
10. If a student is experiencing back pain or neck soreness, consult your physician or occupational therapist.
