Backpack Safety For School
“Backpack Safety – Here Are
3 Simple Rules”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here and I am a Burlington, Ontario chiropractor and Certified Posture Expert at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
As promised last time, we are going to discuss backpack safety for your kids or anyone who uses a backpack for that matter.
Here is what you need to know …
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/09.19.2017.dangers.of.improper.backpack.use-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/backpack.school.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Multiple research studies show that kids who carry backpacks that are too heavy are more likely to have pain in their postural system which is made up of the skeletal system and the muscular system.
Children whose backpacks are too heavy present with a condition called with FHP (forward head posture) which is directly related to disability due to neck pain especially, but also shoulder pain and headaches.
The Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission calculated that carrying a 12 pound backpack to and from school every day for an entire school year puts a cumulative load of 21,600 pounds on a child’s spine. This is equivalent to the weight of 6 mid-sized cars.
So, backpack safety is never something that you should take lightly and this is what you can do to take care of your child’s posture system.
First of all, backpacks should never exceed more than 10% of your child’s body weight. If your child weighs 120 pounds for example, then their backpack should not exceed 12 pounds in weight.
Find out how much your kids weigh!
Load the heaviest items first such as laptops and text books. These should lie closest to your child’s spine.
And make sure they wear it right.
There are 2 straps for a reason!
Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can cause a lateral curve (scoliosis)in your child’s spine.
The backpack should rest in the middle of the back with equal weight distribution over both shoulders and the waist strap should be secured in the front.
By observing these 3 simple rules, you will minimize the negative effect that wearing a backpack will have on your child’s posture system.
Next time you are going to learn about smart sitting in school, but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please give me a call.
Consultations in our office are always free of charge which also includes a free and detailed posture check. Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre …. Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
Click Here To Book a Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad