News

WALLINGFORD, CT (August 23, 2010) – The end of summer signals the return to school and the need to purchase a variety of school supplies. Often at the top of the list is a comfortable, size appropriate backpack. The physical therapists at the Gaylord Outpatient Centers offer the following tips for safe backpack use for students of any age.

1. Choose backpacks that have thickly padded shoulder straps that can protect against upper back and shoulder pain. Padded straps also protect against nerve compression or possible circulatory problems. If possible select a backpack with a lumbar cushion, which helps redistribute weight to the lower extremities and makes it easier to stand up straight. Opting for pack with a padded back offers protection from sharp edges or something poking through the pack.
2. A waist belt on a backpack helps to distribute weight evenly and shifts weight off the shoulders, neck and upper back to the lower back. Selecting a pack with multiple compartments allows for better weight distribution.
3. The rule of thumb is that the pack and its contents shouldn’t weigh more than 15% of the wearer’s body weight. A child weighing 50 lbs. should carry a backpack weighing no more than 7.5 lbs. An adolescent who weighs 130 lbs. should carry a backpack weighing no more than 19.5 lbs.
4. Be careful where you put that backpack. Gaylord therapists report that they’ve seen injuries that happen when kids trip over them when they are on the ground or use them to hit someone, whether by accident or in fun.
5. Students can stay safe and healthy by picking out a the right backpack, packing the heaviest items on the bottom, placing the pack out of the way and handling it carefully around others.

For more information about backpack safety, ergonomics and muscle and joint injuries, contact Gaylord Specialty Health Care’s Outpatient Center at (203) 284-2818 or check our resources on the web at www.gaylord.org.

Gaylord physical therapists Andrea Oberlander and Erin Prastine bring a message of injury prevention to area elementary, middle and high school children through the ThinkFirst program. They lead a classroom discussion devoted to informing kids of all ages about the risk of traumatic injury due to activities such as driving, bicycling, skateboarding and diving. As healthcare professionals, they believe that they must reach children and teens sooner to help them understand the causes and behaviors associated with traumatic injuries.

The ThinkFirst program is free and offered to area schools and community groups. Studies show that students significantly increase their knowledge related to safety behaviors and potential for injury after attending the ThinkFirst presentation. The importance of wearing a helmet, for example, jumped from 22% to 60%; safety belt use from 46% to 69%; and those stating injuries were almost always preventable increased from 22% to 49%.

For more information—or to bring ThinkFirst to your school—contact the program coordinators at thinkfirst@gaylord.org.