Back to School Tips for Backpacks

If you have kids, you’re probably doing your back to school shopping. A backpack is the best way for children to carry items, but not all backpacks are created equal. In order to prevent problems with muscle strains and worn-out cartilage in the future, we at Dr. Robert Larson’s chiropractic office want to provide a guide to proper backpack usage.


A person should always wear both shoulder straps, and ideally, the backpack will have a strap across the chest, as well. The straps should be wide and padded. The backpack should sit on the middle of the upper back, not sagging down to the lower portion. It should weigh no more than 15% of the wearer’s bodyweight. This means that you should avoid getting a backpack with wheels or a pull-out handle or one which is disproportionately large for your child. As your child learns their schedule, they will need to plan when they can switch out books and other items so they aren’t carrying around too much. When your child leaves for school in the morning, they should be able to lift the backpack up without straining (and remember objects should be lifted with the knees, not the lower back).  A week after school starts, ask your children if they have pain or numbness in their shoulders, backs, or arms. If they do, our cold laser and spinal adjustments can help them feel better, but they will have to change how they use their backpack to solve the problem.


Dr. Robert Larson is located at 2110 Overland Ave, Suite 103, Billings, Montana, 59102. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr Robert L Larson or call 406-655-0101.


 

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