It’s back to school season and as your child gets ready to go, there is one important thing to look into; the school bag. What your kids are putting in them and how they are wearing them.
The Growing Years: your kids bones are now growing like beanstalks, which makes their body’s more flexible and not as strong as fully developed adults. Their ligaments and tendons require more time to catch up. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that your child does not sustain unnecessary harm to their spine.
Injuries from Improper Use of Backpacks: there are approximately 13, 000 ER visits for backpack related injuries every year in the US. Due to back, neck and shoulder pain; postural distortions can change the way your child looks.
How Much Should Your Child Carry?- If they are hauling more than 15% of their body weight (10% for younger kids), lighten up your load. Too much weight can give students a hard time balancing while doing daily activities. (see chart for quick reference).
What is a Good Backpack? : Here are a few key items to look for when getting that next backpack:
• wide, padded shoulder straps.
• S-shaped shoulder straps
• lightweight backpack, when it’s empty.
• a chest and/or waist strap.
• a back support/ padding
• lots of pockets.
Types of Backpacks: There are the classic double shoulder and the more modern single strap-side pack. Although the single strap packs are a bit more stylish looking they do come at a cost— this can cause the spine to lean, putting stress on the joints and muscles in the mid- and lower-back. The best backpack is the double shoulder strap packs.
Tips on How to Carry Your Backpack: Don’t sling your backpack on one side- this will cause the spine to lean, putting stress on your back. Do wear both straps and adjust them so that the pack fits snugly. Check the fit- you should be able to slide your hand between the backpack and your back. Do use the waist/chest straps because it reduces the strain on your back and transfers some of the load to your hips. Don’t carry your backpack too low as this will cause you to lean forward and puts the weight on your upper-back.
- Dr. Andrew Erjavec
Finally, if your child is experiencing back pain or neck soreness, please feel free to call us at Benefit Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic in Langley at 604-534-7451.
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