Backpack Fit Tips

BACKPACK FIT TIPS FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL!

It’s that time of the year again….summer is winding down and soon your little (and big) ones will be going back to school.   This means that soon kids will be trudging through the hallways with their backpacks loaded with books, electronics, and whatever else kids put in their backpacks these days.  Unfortunately we’ve noticed a trend lately that is quite alarming…more children coming to Hamm Chiropractic with back pain.  Sometimes the causes are obvious; sports injuries, a recent fall, poor posture- but other times we have to dig further in to the cause of the pain.  Often times there will be a heavy, over-loaded backpack that is a likely culprit. 
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shared the finding that in 2014 alone, 3,203 school-age children went to the emergency room due to backpack-related injuries. Preliminary reports from France show a direct relationship between the length of time children wear backpacks to the length of time necessary for deformity or curvature of the spine to correct itself naturally. Children in Italian studies showed that 60 percent of participating children using heavy backpacks experienced resulting back pain. Legislation is underway in California and New Jersey to limit backpack weight to 10 percent or less of the body weight of a child and strongly recommend backpacks designed to be ergonomically correct.
Our suggestion to parents is to:
  • limiting backpack weight to less than 10 percent of a child’s body weight,
  • hanging backpacks no more than four inches past the waistline
  • wear both shoulder straps to equally distribute weight.
If you’d like to discuss your child’s backpack and learn how to minimize their chances of backpack related pain give us a call.  Backpack consultations are always FREE. 
If your child is experiencing any back or neck pains realize that they can benefit from chiropractic care just as much as adults.  Their spines can go through a lot of stress with school, sports, growth, and more.  At Hamm Chiropractic we will take the time to educate the parent and child on proper ergonomics and exercises that can improve posture and strengthen the spine to avoid further problems down the road. 

Dr Danny       

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