Backpacks without back pain

In our office, we are seeing more and more children with neck and back pain due to improper backpacks. Wearing a backpack incorrectly promotes poor posture, or worse, joint and spinal stress.

Here are some important tips to protect your children from spinal stress.

1. Purchase backpacks with wide, padded adjustable straps so that the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body
2. Have your child wear both shoulder straps
3. Your child’s backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline.
4. Choose a backpack with multiple compartments so items do not shift.
5. Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 10 percent of their body weight when full.