SOS: Save Our Spines, a Back School for Kids.

The author's purpose is to develop an instructional package of materials for teaching students in grades 4 through 6 about correct posture and proper body mechanics for the prevention of back injuries and the improvement of overall health. The program can be presented in its entirety (designed for a 11/2- to 2-hour session) or used as an outline or guide. Originally, the author wrote the material to be presented by occupational therapists or physical therapists, but revised the second edition by further defining the terminology so that other health professionals or laypersons could use the script.

Part 1 of the instructor's manual includes an introduction, a glossary, and a definition of terminology, which is really the rationale for the concepts taught. Part 2 includes a program outline, a checklist for the educator, a list of recommended materials, an actual script for the major content, a pretest and a posttest for the students, an evaluation sheet, two posters, and six visual aids.

The author uses the mnemonic "SOS" (Save Our Spines) to teach the basic concepts. "S" means "spines neutral," and several practice activities are described so that the students can understand and experience the concept of a neutral spine. The "O" means "offset gravity" and represents the concept that keeping a neutral spine helps offset gravity and keeps us from having to work so hard. The second "S" is for "squat to lift," which is further emphasized with the clue, "nose over toes."

The rationale for the program is sound, and references are included to support some of the basic concepts. Considerable detail is given to provide the framework for instruction. The text, however, tends to be wordy and repetitive and, although the activities are good, there are quite a few of them and they require considerable preparation. A potential drawback of the program is that it might be overwhelming for someone who is not knowledgeable about the content and provide unnecessary detail and structure for someone who is knowledgeable.

The manual for the students includes three-step instructions on how to use the manual, a pretest and a posttest (with the answers), a glossary, and 14 pages of text. It is written as though it is self-instructional, and students who reviewed the manual generally found it informative, easy to understand, and entertaining. But why a self-instructional, detailed format? As a supplement to a course that includes practice activities, visual aids, posters, and ample opportunity for feedback, the student manual does not need to be in such depth.

The illustrations in the student's manual are cartoon-style line drawings and supplement the material in an interesting and instructional manner. In the instructor's manual, there are photographs of young models supposedly demonstrating good posture or proper body mechanics. in several, the photograph is a side view of the model and the model's head is turned to look at the camera, which seems to be a negative example of "spine neutral."

An emphasis on the prevention of back problems and starting education at an early age, before problems arise, is praiseworthy. The SOS instructional unit is a comprehensive, detailed, interactive method for teaching the key concepts of back injury prevention to school-aged children.

Ms Lunnen is the director of rehabilitation services and a physical therapy consultant for the local school system and has taught a back school for adults for several years and an instructional unit to prevent back injury for grade schoolaged children.