EDUCATION OVERHAUL HEAVY BACKPACKS WORN BY CHILDREN RAISE CONCERN AMONG PARENTS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

Byline: Mariko Thompson Staff Writer

WHEN DR. SAM FINK picks up three of his children from school, he learns what life must be like for the airport baggage handler. As the household member with the strongest muscles, the Tarzana doctor is responsible for lifting his kids' backpacks in and out of the car.

``I can barely lift their backpacks,'' said Fink, whose children are in the third, fifth and seventh grades. ``They're like small suitcases. I don't know what's fundamentally changed, but backpacks now serve as traveling lockers.''

Studies have confirmed that many kids are suffering from back pain, a complaint that used to surface in adulthood, not the carefree years of adolescence. Parents and doctors point to greater amounts of homework at earlier ages and a lack of campus lockers as some of the reasons for plus-size packs. Doctors also speculate that poor fitness habits make youths more prone to sore and strained muscles.

The growing publicity of backpack-itis has brought politics and profits into play. Backpack makers are now touting ergonomically friendly designs in their back-to-school promotions. The California State Legislature wants to legislate away the pounds. Last week, the legislature approved AB 2532, a bill that would require the State Board of Education to set maximum weight standards for textbooks and examine other methods for reducing total backpack weight.

``The heavier the backpack, the more likely children are to have back pain,'' said Dr. Vernon Tolo, chief of orthopedics at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. `We rarely used to see back pain in kids under 10 or 11. There has been an increase among early adolescents compared to 10 or 15 years ago.''

Tolo and Phyllis D'Ambra, a registered nurse with Childrens Hospital, surveyed 1,500 students at three Los Angeles County schools during annual scoliosis screenings last year. Struck by the increasing number of backpack questions from school nurses, parents and children, they decided to do some field research.

A number of students surveyed reported pain in the upper back area. On average, backpacks weighed between 8 and 10 pounds - equaling or exceeding the weight of a bowling ball designed for children. D'Ambra saw one 68-pound girl who carried a hefty 32 pounds in her pack.

``The kids were pretty honest about what they were feeling,'' D'Ambra said. ``At the end of the day as they were walking home, that's when they felt the impact.''

Doctors say parents don't need to worry that the backpack problem will cause scoliosis or serious injury. At worst, kids are looking at sore and strained muscles. But it's too early to know whether these children will be more susceptible to serious back problems as adults, said Shelley Goodgold, associate professor of physical therapy at Simmons College in Boston.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, 70 percent to 85 percent of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain ranks as the second-most-reported reason for doctor visits and the third-most-common reason for surgical procedures.

``We don't want to set our children up for that,'' Goodgold said. ``It's not prudent to let kids carry heavy backpacks. Keep the backpack to what is reasonable. Children should do homework, but they shouldn't be beasts of burden.''

Goodgold surveyed 350 middle school students in the Boston area last year on backpack weight. She found that one in three had either visited the doctor or curtailed sports activities as a result of back pain.

Experts say children should carry only 15 percent of their body weight. So the 68-pound girl would have to reduce the weight in her backpack from 32 pounds to about 10 pounds. In a nonscientific experiment, Goodgold found that backpacks become unwieldy at 12 percent of body weight, or about 8 pounds for the 68-pound girl.

``How much you can carry depends on how big and strong you are, what your posture is like and how you wear the backpack,'' Goodgold said.

Goodgold suggests parents and children look for five warning signs:

-- Pain in the neck, shoulders, back or knees.

-- Red marks on the skin left by backpack straps.

-- Altering one's posture by leaning forward to compensate for the weight.

-- Tingling in the arms.

-- Difficulty in putting on and removing the backpack.

Parents don't need to invest in an expensive backpack, Goodgold said. Many discount stores and sporting good stores sell reasonably priced backpacks with features for proper ergonomics. Goodgold said the most important element is the fit. The backpack should fit snugly between the child's neck and low back area. Straps should be padded and contoured, so that arms can swing freely. Multiple compartments and compression straps on the sides will keep packed items stable, she said.

Dr. Clarence Shields, sports medicine specialist at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic and Health South in Los Angeles, has one more piece of advice: Exercise. Strengthening the abs and the back muscles will help children shoulder the load now and develop good fitness and posture for later in life, he said.

Put your child ahead of the pack

With kids heading back to school, a number of companies are marketing ergonomically correct backpacks. But parents don't have to spend a lot of money to find a back-friendly pack. Besides lightening the load, kids can reduce the risk of back pain by finding the right fit and wearing the backpack properly. Here's what the experts say:

-- The backpack, with both straps over the shoulders, should fit snugly between the child's neck and low back area. The pack should be 2 inches above the waist.

-- Straps should be wide, padded and contoured, allowing arms to swing freely.

-- Buy a pack with multiple compartments and place the heaviest items close to the back.

-- Tighten the compression straps on the sides to keep items stable.

-- Use a hip strap when carrying a heavy load.

-- Use proper lifting techniques. Bend the knees when picking up a heavy pack.

-- Though some experts recommend a backpack with rollers, others warn against them. Roller bags still have to be lifted up stairs. Because they're bulkier than regular backpacks, kids may have a hard time storing them in lockers.

-- Limit the amount a child carries to no more than 15 percent of his or her body weight.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) pack mules

As kids return to school, protect their backs from weight-related injuries.

(2) The weight of students' backpacks, like those worn here at St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, have prompted the state Legislature to take action.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer(3) no caption (Backpack)

Box:

Put your child ahead of the pack (see text)