STUDENTS MOAN, "OH, MY ACHING BACK".

• Position: Overloaded backpacks causing back pain - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Back to school should not signal the start of aches and pains, but for many youth who use backpacks, it could be full of visits to the doctor's office. "Overloaded backpacks are contributing to these increased visits to the physician's office," notes orthopedic surgeon Charlotte B. Alexander, Houston (Tex.) Sports Medicine Associates. "The extra stress placed on the spine and shoulder from the heavy loads is causing some unnecessary medical problems in children."

More than 70% of orthopedists surveyed indicated that heavy backpacks can become a clinical problem in school-age children if not enough attention is made to decrease some of the weight being carried in them. The physicians cited muscle fatigue and strain as the top clinical conditions that could occur if youngsters continue to load their backpacks with...