WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NCBack pain epidemic in children

Back pain epidemic in children

By Tonia Bendickson - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Local health experts tonight are sounding an alarm about back pain in our children.  They're seeing an epidemic rise in complaints of middle schoolers with migraines, and teens with herniated discs.

Dr. Winn Sams is on a mission to help parents to take a closer look at the weight we place on our kids' shoulders.  She says it's a problem we can no longer ignore.  Spine experts like Sams and Dr. Michael Meehan are seeing a shocking rise in young people with adult back pain.  "I'm seeing kids coming in with migraines, headaches, even 16-year-olds with herniated discs," he says.

They're seeing upper back pain, lower back pain, and the posture of someone DECADES older. They're concerned about the long-term consequences of children carrying too-heavy backpacks.

So how heavy is too heavy?

Experts recommend a child carry no MORE than 15-percent of her body weight.

The average 7-year-old is 50 pounds...

So that means more than seven pounds is too much.

The average 9-year should carry no more than 10 pounds in her pack.

Even a 130-pound student should carry 19-pounds or less.

Eva Gourley was shocked at how much her 75-pound son was carrying.  "We got it down to 11 pounds."  What was it before? I asked.  "18 pounds," she said.

Parents like Mrs. Gourley, and North Carolina Senator Eddie Goodall think schools could do more to help.  Senator Goodall says, "Well I don't think they're doing anything to help the problem, they're creating the problem."

CMS plans to cut costs this fall by cutting bus stops, meaning more kids will have to walk longer distances.  Senator Goodall says we shouldn't be saving money on the backs of our children.

"As long as the bus has a steering wheel and brakes, it ought to stop," he says.

Jahmykhal Smith says his backpack feels light today, about 8.2 pounds.  But at 86 pounds, he should really NEVER carry any more than that.  We looked inside his pack, and he didn't even have any books inside.  His mom had no idea it got so heavy.  "We're gonna have to come up with a way to lighten the load," she said.

Working together, parents - doctors - and lawmakers hope to come up with solutions to keep book bags and bus stops from giving kids a long-term pain in the neck.

You can help alleviate your child's pain:
-Check their pack for a proper fit.
-Convince them to use both shoulder straps.

Lighten their load:
-Try not to carry all books at once.
-E-books are becoming a popular alternative.
-Storing books in lockers helps.
-Keep the big, bulky binders at home, send paper folders to school.

Learn more here, at HealthyChildren.org