Backpack Weight: How Much is Too Much?

To make sure kids don't fall victim to backpack-related injuries this fall, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America are offering some safety tips.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 24,300 people were treated in hospitals and doctor offices for injuries related to backpacks in 2012, and more than 9,500 of those injuries were kids 5-18 years old.

On an average school day, how much weight do your kids carry in their backpacks? Tell us in the comments below.

"Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of load among some of the body's strongest muscles," said orthopaedic surgeon and AAOS spokesman Dr. Michael Wade Shrader. "But, when worn incorrectly, injuries such as strains, sprains and posture problems can occur. While some of these injuries can be minor, others can have a lasting effect on kids, and follow them into adulthood."

SAFETY TIPS 

• Kids should carry no more than 15-20 percent of their body weight. (For a kid who weighs 80 pounds, that's no more than 12 to 16 pounds in his or her backpack.)
• Use both shoulder straps to keep the weight of the backpack better distributed and adjust the shoulder straps to keep the load close to the back.
• Remove or organize items if too heavy and pack the heavier things low and toward the center.
• When lifting backpacks, bend at the knees.
• School backpacks are for schoolwork. Carry only those items required for the day; if possible, leave books at home or school.
• At home and school, keep walkways clear of backpacks to avoid tripping.

Parents also can help with backpack-related pain:

• Encourage your child or teen to tell you about numbness or tingling in the arms or  legs, which may indicate poor fit or too much weight being carried.
• If the backpack seems too heavy for the child, have him/her remove some of the books and carry them in their arms to ease load on the back. 
• Purchase a backpack appropriate for the size of your child.
• Watch your child put on or take off the backpack to see if it is a struggle.
• Encourage your child to stop at his/her locker throughout the day to drop off heavier books.

For more tips on backpack safety, visit the AAOS website.