Kids! Avoid a pain in the back!

As part of Safety In Schools week 14^th-18th June 2010 Harman Family Chiropractors Dr Sam Harman and Dr Julie Kendall are focusing on injury prevention and spinal health associated with poor backpack usage.

A back-pack should enable students to safely transport school necessities to and from school.  It is vital that a back pack be fitted appropriately, and worn correctly to prevent back injury.  If a backpack is not worn correctly it can lead to unnecessary load being placed on particular areas of the spine, which could be associated with poor posture, neck or back pain, discomfort or even scoliosis.

A backpack should be the correct size for your child, worn using both shoulder straps (not over one shoulder) and not too heavy.

Tips on choosing a backpack the right size for your child:- 

• The backpack should be no wider than the child’s chest and have broad padded shoulder straps
• The backpack shouldn’t sit lower than the hollow of the lower back

Tips on wearing the backpack correctly:- 

• The backpack and contents should be no heavier than 10% of your child’s body weight (eg. For a 40kg child the backpack (and its contents) should weigh no more than 4kgs)
• Use the waist and chest straps attached to enhance balance
• Use both shoulder straps
• Place all heavy items at the base of the pack close to the spine.

If your child is suffering from incorrect backpack usage, we recommend you see your local Chiropractor and get your child’s spine assessed; and get an appropriate backpack and wear it correctly.

Investing now in the correct backpack and wearing it appropriately can save a big pain in the neck in the future!