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Abstract

This case study looks at the perceptions and measurements of backpack weight with regards to elementary, middle and high school students as studied during the American Occupational Therapy Association's National Backpack Awareness Day in Pleasanton, California. School students participated in the weigh-in with high school volunteers assisting an ergonomics consultant with measurements. Two consecutive years were compared and results suggest that the middle school students carry the greatest backpack weight as compared to their percentage of body weight. Perceptions of the students regarding the backpack weight indicated a self-reported discomfort with the amount to be carried each day specifically due to the requirements of their teachers. It is through education of backpack awareness that educators and students should work together to reduce the load that each student needs to transport on a regular basis.

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References

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A Case Study on the Backpack Weight of School Students

Abstract

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References