CINCINNATI, Jul 28, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Orthopedic experts at a U.S.
hospital advise parents to make sure their child's backpack is a quality one.
Eric Wall of the Orthopaedic Surgery Division of Ohio's Cincinnati Children's
Hospital says a rolling backpack is a good option for children carrying heavy
loads, but asks parents to remember school terrain is often more challenging to
negotiate with wheels than the average airport.
"When used correctly, backpacks are the most efficient way to carry a load and
distribute the weight among some of the body's strongest muscles," Wall says in
a statement.
However, he says, a child's backpack should be limited to no more that 15
percent to 20 percent of a child's weight.
Wall and other orthopedic experts at Cincinnati Children's also advise parents
who want to prevent injuries to:
-- Look for a backpack that is lightweight, has two wide and padded shoulder
straps, a cushioned back and waist straps.
-- Encourage children to use both shoulder straps and make sure the straps are
tight.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International