Chiropractor Plano's Advice on Backpacks

Even though almost universal, it is a proven fact that backpacks are a leading cause of shoulder and back pain for millions of children around the country. Students are suffering with neck, shoulder or low back pain caused by excessively heavy or wrongly fitted backpacks. From a chiropractic point of view, there are a number of items that parents can look out for to protect their youngsters.

Here are some suggestions for parents choosing the best backpack for their children. Firstly the backpack should never be wider or longer than your child's torso, and in addition it should go no more than 4 inches below the waist. Of course the straps should be adjustable, and adjusted so they are not too loose. If the backpack hangs too low, it can increase the pressure on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking. As an extra help, a waist strap can assist by keeping the weight close to the back.

Of course, probably the main factor is the weight carried in the backpack. It is recommended that parents show their children how to best pack their backpacks. It is surprising what items do end up in their backpacks, mostly unrelated to school. Parents should make ensure children never carry more than 10% of their body weight in the backpack. A child who weighs 100 pounds should not carry more than a 10 pounds backpack. In addition, parents should ask their children to let them know about any pain or discomfort resulting from carrying their backpack. Improperly loaded or improperly carried can be a major form of stress on a young developing spine, and it can have more serious effects on the nerve system function and even general health. It is worth asking the question to your child's teacher - are all those books really needed? If your child's backpack is still too heavy, see if you can leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter materials or workbooks.

Another important feature of a good backpack is that is should have a padded back. This is more comfortable and also can protect the back from being poked by book corners or even sharp school supplies like pencils. Ideally a backpack should also have separate internal compartments which help keep the weight distributed evenly, or the heavy objects will end up being at the bottom of the pack, which is the worst place. Show your child how to pack the heaviest items closest to the back and nearer the top.
As another important point, the backpack should have two wide padded shoulder straps, as without padding unnecessary pressure is applied to the shoulder. Also encourage your child to use both straps, as carrying a backpack with only one strap tends to lead to the child leaning to one side, which may result in neck and lower back pain, also leading to poor posture.

As if all these points were not enough, remember the 'cool factor'. Kids at school have a lot of peer pressure, and any backpack has to look good, as well as have the safety features discussed in this article.

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

Sam Grau has set up an independent information and help website at Plano Chiropractor

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