Millions of children carry backpacks to school, and more than half carry too much weight, resulting in neck, shoulder, and back pain — negatively affecting their spine and posture, breathing, and resulting in fatigue. The American Occupational Therapy Association recommends that your child carry no more than 15% of his or her body weight (or less if your child has any issues with low muscle tone or strength, respiratory issues, etc.). Talk to the school about reducing backpack weights. A good place to start is by downloading the informational pdf from AOTA: Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students. Look for lightweight versions of recommended school supplies; keep a set of duplicate textbooks at home; clarify assignments so that your child doesn’t take home all of his texts when he just needs one. Try one of the rolling backpacks, but keep in mind that your child will probably need to hoist it onto the school bus and up and down staircases. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Visit the Site Map to find easy-to-use and reliable resources now available on healthfinder.gov. Our new site still offers the latest information on over 1,600 health topics, plus new features and tools to help you stay healthy, including: Health Topics A to Z - Discover the top five things you can do to stay healthy. myhealthfinder - Find out which important screening tests you need this year. Plus: get other health recommendations based on your age and sex. Tell us what you think of the new site.Please, wait while we are validating your browserThe American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) celebrates National Backpack Awareness Day the third Wednesday of September every year.  Many children in school today are carrying too much weight in their backpacks which can result in future injuries to the back and other parts of the body.  AOTA reported that “more than 2,000 backpack-related injuries were treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and clinics in 2007.”  

So how heavy is too heavy? The weight of the backpack should not exceed 10% of the student’s weight; therefore, a student weighing 100 pounds should carry a backpack no heavier than 10 pounds.  The way the bag is packed and worn is also important.  Heavier items should be packed closest to the back, with lighter items being in exterior pockets.  It is also important for students to double check their homework assignments to assure that they are only packing necessary books to bring home each night, as well as utilizing lockers and cubbies for storage of unnecessary books during the school day.  AOTA also suggests that “the height of the backpack should extend from approximately 2 inches below the shoulder blades to waist level or slightly above the waist. It is recommended that individuals always wear the backpack on both shoulders so the weight is evenly distributed.”  Other red flags that may indicate a backpack is too heavy include red marks on the shoulders, a shift in posture to one side, and noticeable difficulty lifting the backpack to put on. 

Check out the links below for resources to give to your child’s teacher if you suspect your child’s backpack is too heavy. What’s All the Flap About? Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students 1, 2, 3s of Backpack Wearing Elizabeth Hughs, LOTR is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Live Oak Children’s Center.The 2016 AOTA Backpack Awareness Day™ will be Wednesday, September 21, 2016 This annual event helps educate children, parents, school administrators, teachers, and the community about the serious health problems associated with wearing a backpack incorrectly.   The Boston University Occupational Therapy Department works with the AOTA to provide information to families and to help ensure that the weight of kids’ backpacks exceeds no more than 10% of their body weight.  Carrying too much weight in a pack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to aching back and shoulders, weakened muscles, and stooped posture. On September 17, 2014, 64 OT graduate students from Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College and Karen were at the Jackson Mann School in Brighton, MA.

The Boston University Sargent College Rotaract Club will be conducting a Backpack Awareness Day weigh-in from of Sargent College at 635 Commonwealth Ave. Boston on September 17, 2014 from 5:30-6:30pm. We will be raffling a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 at the event. All students who participate in the weigh-in are eligible to win the Microsoft Surface Pro 3. AOTA’s Backpack Awareness Day 2012 Last year’s AOTA Backpack Awareness Day™ was Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Graduate OT students from Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College and I were at the Jackson Mann School in Brighton, MA and at St. Mary of the Assumption Rectory School in Brookline, MA to weigh the backpacks of elementary school students and offer guidance on the best way to wear a backpack. “More than 72 million American school children will be wearing a backpack to and from school every day this academic year. And as OT’s, we’re concerned about the increasingly serious problem posed by improper school backpack use,” says Jacobs. 

“We risk doing long-term damage to our kids’ growing bodies by remaining silent on this public health issue.” Jacobs supports the effectiveness of backpack education. In a study, almost 8 out of 10 middle school children who had been educated on backpack safety subsequently changed how they loaded their backpacks and ultimately, reported less pain and strain in their backs, necks, and shoulders. Public Service announcement created by BU OT students for Brookline Access Television Media coverage of National School Backpack Awareness Day 2012: Backpack Awareness Day 2012 Press Release BU Backpack Awareness School Handout (2012) AOTA Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students A Boston University video on backpack awareness can be found at: http://www.bu.edu/today/2011/take-a-load-off/ How Full is Sophia’s Backpack? If you would like to consult an occupational therapist about an ergonomic evaluation, talk to your child’s teacher about whether a referral to occupational therapy is appropriate.