Backpacks and Spinal Health

It’s that time of the year again and as you start your back to school preparations, OptiStart Chiropractic would like to encourage you to be mindful of your child’s spinal heath this new school year.

The back to school period is a great time to check the fitting of your child’s backpack and by making a few simple changes, can prevent poor posture and long-term spinal health issues.

Some of the signs of poor posture to look out for from an incorrectly worn backpack can include: forward head posture, slouching and uneven hips. Identifying and stopping these signs early on is important as the spine is still developing during the adolescent years.1

Avoiding back to school backache is easy with these simple tips on how to wear a backpack correctly:

Size: make sure the backpack is appropriately sized and no wider than your child’s chest

Weight: backpacks should ideally be no heavier than 10 per cent of a student’s weight when packed. Some of the ways to keep the weight of the load down is by packing only essential items and storing unrequired items in a school locker.

Straps: both shoulder straps (preferably padded) should always be worn. Make sure to secure the sternum, waist and compression straps.

Position: the backpack shouldn’t be worn any lower than the hollow of the lower back with all heavy items positioned at the base of the pack, closest to the spine

We invite you to make an appointment at our clinic this back to school period for more advice and assistance on selecting the right backpack, making sure it is fitted correctly to suit your child’s current level of development.