If you have a school-aged child, you’ve probably had to worry at some point about the growing weight of their backpacks. Indeed, students’ heavy homework load can be damaging to more than just their free time. Experts believe you should not carry more than about 10 to 15% of your own weight on your back. So, when reducing the load isn’t possible, consider the following tips:
- Get your child a backpack with two padded shoulder straps, and one strap around the waist. Using all three of these will distribute the weight nicely while providing lumbar support.
- When buying a backpack, be sure that it is a good fit for your child. You should be able to tighten the straps so that it fits snugly.
- By organizing the contents of your child’s backpack so that the heavier items are closer to the back, you can reduce the strain on the spines.
- Consider switching to a wheeled backpack.
Talk to our Edmonds chiropractic clinic for more information on how you can protect your child from back pain.