Research shows that “Children who experience back pain are at a heightened risk for having back pain as adults.” (Clin Orthop Relat Res 2003;409:78-84)
Picking a backpack for your child and yourself is a bigger decision than you might think. If you pick the right one, it could prevent a lot of pain down the road. Here are some tips to help you out:
1. Take a look at the size of the backpack in relation to your child’s frame
2. Choose one with padded shoulder straps, and if you find one with waist belts that strap around the hips this will provide extra support and distribution of the load
3. The load should be limited to no more than 10% of the carrier’s body weight
4. Use both shoulder straps and hip belts
5. Always load the heaviest items closest to the back, near the centre of gravity, and distribute loads evenly on either side of the backpack
If you or your child are experiencing pain from carrying your backpack, bag or purse, come in to the office to be assessed and I can help with treatment and suggestions on how to make things better.
About the Author: Dr. Jessalynn Frederick, BHK, DC
As a licensed chiropractor, Dr. Frederick specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of conditions and disorders relating to the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems. She believes firmly in treating the source of the problem rather than the symptoms alone. Dr. Frederick believes that education and proper communication is imperative to patient care. When people understand why their pain or dysfunction is occurring, it enables them to make the changes necessary to correct the problem at hand.
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