Don’t wear a backpack before reading this article.

Wearing a backpack wrong can cause back problems and even long-term injuries.

Even if you wear the backpack correctly, carrying excessive weight in a backpack can cause wear and tear on the joints, ligaments, and muscles across the entire back and in the hips. Wearing heavy backpacks can also cause the spine to compress which can lead to a number of health issues.

Sacramento Chiropractor Discusses Wearing Backpacks Without Causing Back Pain

In the introduction above we discussed how wearing backpacks incorrectly can cause injury. However, simply wearing heavy backpacks can also cause injury.

How much should my backpack weigh?

Our Sacramento Chiropractic office recommends a backpack weighs anywhere between 10-20% of your body weight. If you are wearing it for a short amount of time, it can be closer to 20% but if you are wearing your backpack for several hours it may be safer to reduce the load to 10% of your body weight.

Wearing your backpack correctly is ALMOST ALWAYS the best decision. Wearing the backpack incorrectly can lead to uneven distribution of weight, and injury. It is also wise to use ergonomic backpacks to protect your spine health.

What is an ergonomic backpack?

Ergonomic backpacks are designed to support and protect your body. It should be more adjustable than other standard backpacks. The straps and back should be more cushioned. Furthermore, there should be hip and chest belts to ensure the backpack does not move too much while you are in motion. If the backpack moves too much while you walk, the weight of the backpack is compounded by the movement, causing small impacts that injure your spine. At our Sacramento Chiropractic office, we strongly encourage backpackers, military personnel, and other people whoo carry heavy loads to use the decompression table and receive preventative care.

Are Chiropractors good for pain caused by backpacks?

Yes, Chiropractors can alleviate back pain caused by backpacks, if they come from the spine needing to be aligned. Even a relatively light backpack can cause the spine to shift position. Over time, these issues can get worse, making it even harder to find a comfortable position. Our Sacramento chiropractor's office can do a comprehensive evaluation to assess spinal health. Typically, once the root of the back pain is found, if it is something that we can treat then we recommend using a personalized care plan to achieve pain relief.

Some of the typical issues that we treat from wearing backpacks too long are:

• Back and shoulder pain

• Numbness and tingling in the arms

• Poor posture

• Reduced blood flow

• Headache and neck pain

• Distorted natural spine curvature

• Muscle strain caused by overcompensation

How many treatments does it take for a chiropractor to fix pain caused by backpacks?

Our Chiropractic Office has gotten pain relief for this type of issue in as little as 1 visit, but typically we recommend following our personalized corrective care programs to ensure that we correct problems instead of only reducing symptoms. Often back pain takes between 2 and 12 weeks to completely resolve depending on the severity of what is causing the pain. Once the underlying issues are resolved, patients can choose to receive maintenance care to ensure the spine stays in alignment.

If you are interested in correcting back problems caused by backpacks, please give us a call or send us your email using the New Patient Offer page.

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