I hate to bearer of bad news kids(maybe good news for parents), but it's almost time to go back to school. It is this time of year that school supplies will be purchased. One of the most important back to school supplies is a backpack. Statistics say more than 40 million students carry backpacks. overloading and poor positioning of back packs is a leading cause of back and shoulder pain in children.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, the following steps can help:
- Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.
- The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
- A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back.
- Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry-and the heavier the backpack will be.
- Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain. Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child's shoulders.
If your child is experiencing back pain from their backpack or to have your child's backpack check by our office, give us a call at 303-678-8555.
