How To Pick The Best Backpack For School
Houston Chiropractor Comments: This is the time of the year that parents start to look for school backpacks for their children. These backpacks, while necessary for carrying all their school supplies, tend to be poorly designed for the size of the students. The backpacks often place an excessive strain on their necks and upper backs. Over a period-of-time, the extra weight can distort the natural spinal curvatures.
This distortion can lead to:
- Rounding of the shoulders
- Causing irritation and muscle strain of the rib cage and spinal joints
- Cause the child to lean forward which can reduce their balance and make them more susceptible to falls
The problems with the backpack can be made worse by only utilizing one strap. Doing this causes the child to lean to one side and puts the muscles under non-symmetrical strain.
There is not a consensus among doctors on the correct amount of weight that a child can carry or the perfect backpack design, but parents should use common sense in choosing the best backpack for your child.
Look for backpack design features that help reduce the chance of back pain:
- Lightweight material (canvas as opposed to leather)
- Two padded, wide (2-inches), adjustable shoulder straps on the backpack
- Padded back
- Individualized compartments
- Hip strap, waist belt, or frame to redistribute the weight of the backpack from the shoulders and back to the pelvis
- Wheels so that the backpack can be pulled rather than carried
- Consider using a separate bag for the child’s laptop or other heavier electronic items
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
