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Written by Claudia Anrig, D.C.
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Wednesday, 01 September 2004 00:00 |
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Page 2 of 2
 The Roller Bag
Despite the hype this is not the answer to a parent’s dream. Yes, the roller bag takes the weight off the child’s spine and shoulders; however, an empty roller bag weighs up to 80% more than an empty backpack. Yes, the roller bag uses wheels and levers and thus requires less energy to transport. However, being bigger they hold more so the tendency is to overload it; parent beware, your child’s backpack can end up weighing 50 pounds or more. Of course, the most important and undeniable fact is that eventually your child will need to lift that bag. Just because it’s on rollers doesn’t make it any less damaging to your child’s spine, especially if overloaded or used improperly.2
In Summary
For your child’s spinal health it’s important to realize no function on a backpack is going to alleviate your responsibility to teach your child to properly load, carry and lift a heavy backpack. Take a moment today to go over the major points of proper backpack usage.
References:
- The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Bulletin Volume 47, No 6. December 1999
- Arnsdorff, M. Mounting Research on Backpack Use. Originally published in INPA Newsletter May/June 2002
- Widome, M. Weighing in on Backpack Safety: Tips for toting school gear without physical injuries. 2000
- Pistolese, R. Book Bags: What Every Parent Should Know. Originally printed in ICPA Newsletter November/December 2000
 About the Author:
Dr. Anrig is a long time board member of the ICPA. She has taught for their Diplomate program for over 15 years and has co-authored the most comprehensive, chiropractic pediatric text book. She can be reached via our doctor's directory: www.icpa4kids.com
 This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #03.
To purchase this issue, Order Here.
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