IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN! WHILE PARENTS ARE OUT AND ABOUT SHOPPING FOR SUPPLIES AND BACK PACKS. MAKE SURE YOU GET A BACK PACK THAT IS SAFE AND PROTECTIVE OF YOUR CHILD’S BACK AND SPINE.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when picking out and preparing your child’s back pack. 1. Find a back pack with thick shoulder straps. The added padding will help relief on the shoulders. (Always use both shoulder straps) Often times, kids wear their backpacks over just one shoulder because it’s easier to do or looks better. They may end up leaning to one side to help offset the weight. This can develop lower and upper back pain as well as strain their shoulders and neck. 2. Pack the heaviest items at the bottom and towards the back nearest to the body. Remember that less weight is always better. Use the bathroom scale to check that a pack isn’t over 10% to 15% of your child’s body weight. An example, an 80lb kid’s pack should be 8-12 lbs. 3. The back pack should be torso length. It should end two inches below the waist. 4. Find a backpack with a waist strap. The waist strap will help distribute weight more evenly to your hips opposed to the shoulders. 5. Multiple compartments: to help distribute the weight throughout the pack.
