Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about school day health issues. A backpack bulging with books and school supplies may be a sign of a good student, but doctors at
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say it can also cause nerve damage. There's actually a condition called Rucksack Paralysis caused by the strain on shoulders and arms.
Dr. Jay Cook, a pediatric neurologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says the condition causes pain and tingling in the hands and arms, and it can become permanent if children keep carrying packs that are too heavy. If a child is slouching under the weight of a backpack, that pack is too heavy. Kids shouldn't carry anything that isn't necessary in their packs. Use a pack with a waistband and carry it with both straps to distribute the load. Or you may want to consider a rolling backpack or luggage cart.
###
September 2005
Health Watch is heard Monday through Friday nationwide on the "Stardust" format of ABC Satellite Radio. Call your local radio station and ask if they carry the program.
