School is back in session, and soon, your kids will have their backpacks filled. Does it seem like they carry around a 50-pound bag of rocks on their back? Do you notice them struggling to put it on in the morning or needing help to pull the straps together to buckle? Researchers and healthcare organizations are increasingly concerned about the effects of this extra weight on your child’s developing spine.
Carrying a heavy load that exceeds the capacity of a young body can lead to significant health risks. The spine may experience compression, causing children to constantly lean forward, resulting in posture problems, compensatory movements, and pain. To reduce this risk, it’s recommended to limit the backpack’s weight to less than 10% of the child’s body weight. It’s estimated that over 60% of children carry backpacks that weigh more than 10% of their body weight. For some children, that may mean carrying a backpack nearly identical to their own body weight!
Backpack Tips:
- Ergonomics: When choosing a backpack, prioritize functionality over style. Look for wide and padded straps, an appropriate size, and compartments to help distribute the weight evenly. It shouldn’t be wider than their torso or sit more than 4 inches below their waist.
- Fit: It’s essential to ensure that the backpack is worn correctly, with both shoulder straps securely fastened and the backpack not hanging below the waistline.
- Packing: Teach your child to place the heaviest items towards the bottom of the backpack and use all the compartments to distribute the load.
If your child has developed poor posture or neck/back pain, let us know. We’d happily evaluate their posture and movement to correct any concerns before they become a problem.
Source(s):
-Backpack Safety: It’s time to lighten the load. National Safety Council. 2020.
-Backpack weight and back pain reduction: effect of an intervention in adolescents. Pediatric Research 2018