We correct pain caused by backpacks in children

At Barham Chiropractic we often correct back problems in children. Unfortunately, most of the time the back problems were completely avoidable and related to school backpacks.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends a backpack weigh no more than 5% to 10% of a child’s weight.

Bigger is not always better when it comes to backpacks.

Below we will share our top 3 backpack tips and sincerely hope they help you prevent your child from experiencing back pain.

Top 3 Backpack Tips for school aged children

1. Choose the best backpack for your child

1. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends the backpack not be wider than your child’s torso. It also shouldn’t hang more than 4 inches below the waist.

2. The backpack’s shoulder straps need to be adjustable, padded and include waist and shoulder straps.

3. Choose a bag with a padded back to prevent the contents inside from poking into your child as they walk.

4. Make sure it has multiple compartments so that the weight is distributed effectively. (Ideally similar to the image below)

5. The backpack should have compression straps to stabilize the contents.

2. Teach your child how to use their backpack correctly and encourage them to do so.

1. Pack correctly. This is huge. Ideally, you ought to have your child pack their backpack so that the heaviest material is closest to their back.

2. Make sure your child uses both backpack straps.
   Using one strap shifts the weight to one side and this can cause pain, poor posture, and back problems.

3. Make sure the shoulder straps are tight, and that your child uses the waist and shoulder straps.
   When the backpack is not secured close to the body, the weight and contents inside the bag can shift and put unnecessary stress on the spine.

3. Understand School rules (and make sure you optimize for them)

1. Some schools do not require children to bring their books to school daily, and may often allow them to have lockers to store books in.

2. Often helping your child organize their backpack can dramatically reduce the clutter (and weight of the bag)

3. Some schools allow for rolling bags. This may be helpful depending on your circumstance.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, reach out during office hours.

We sincerely hope this blog was actionable and helpful. Although we celebrate when we help patients, we would prefer back issues be avoided (especially in little ones). If you or your little one are experiencing back pain in Sacramento CA, please give us a call or use our NEW PATIENT OFFER link to schedule a call.

We would love to meet you and get you back to living pain free.

This site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute the rendering of insurance advice, chiropractic healthcare advice, or the provision of treatment or treatment recommendations by our providers. Browsing this site does not establish a professional relationship with Barham Chiropractic or any member of the Barham Chiropractic staff.

If you have any concerns, questions, or comments about this article please reach out to our content moderation team at:

barhamcontent@gmail.com

You can also reach out to our Sacramento Chiropractor Office via phone call at (916) 542-6273 during office hours.