Your children do this one task every day during the school year. Every morning, after they’ve washed off the morning grogginess, they pack their bag for school. Backpacks are a convenient way to carry their items to and fro and all around the school playground, but oftentimes, a school bag can be packed incorrectly and lead to spinal misalignments and postural problems – now and for the future.
Children and adolescents are going through a very important stage in physical development, and a simple task like packing a school bag properly can save a lot of pain, aches and trouble. Your kids are just beginning life, so let’s not hinder their development and make the following tips daily habits for proper and healthy growth!
Tip #1: Keep it Balanced
Having an imbalanced backpack puts pressure on one side of the body over the other. This puts strain on your child’s back, neck and shoulders. The core of the weight should be close to their spine and a child should also only be carrying 10-15% of their own body weight.
Tip #2: Use Two-Straps Instead of One
It might be cool to have a one-strap bag or only use one-strap, but this imbalance can result in spine curvatures and have long-term effects on your child’s posture and walking habits. Always use two straps and ensure that the straps are pulled soundly so that the bag is close to your child’s back.
In one case, we had identical twins visit our clinic. One had their left shoulder 1 inch higher than the other side while the other did not. The twin with the imbalance carried a bag over one shoulder where as the twin with the level shoulders had a rucksack. We thought this was an interesting example of how an unbalanced choice of bag might affect spinal development.
Tip #3: Use a Backpack Only When Necessary
Tell your child to take full advantage of their locker if they have access to one, or to only carry around the necessary items. It’s easy to over-pack a backpack and put unnecessary weight on the back. Children might not understand the damage over-packing until later on in life, when the real issue settles-in.
Start your child off to a great school year with these helpful tips. And if your child expresses any sign of back pain, give us a call so we can have a look and pinpoint the root issue. Call Chislehurst Chiropractic at 020 8295 1733.
