​Back to School Backpacks!

It’s time to go back to school, which means it’s time to possibly get your children a new backpack and decide what to fill it with. Back pain in children is on the rise and there are some beliefs that part of the problem is due to heavy or ill-fitting backpacks. There are a few things to consider when picking out a backpack, deciding how much to put in it, and teaching your children how to properly wear them.

• Backpacks should be no more than 10-15% of your children’s bodyweight. A backpack that is too heavy can cause your child to have to lean forward to compensate for the extra weight. The weight can also cause increased pressure on the spine, cause muscle strains, and alter the natural curves of the spine.
• Backpacks should be worn with both straps. We want the weight of the backpack to be evenly distributed on the body, otherwise it can cause neck and back pain due to compensation patterns.
• The size of a backpack should not be any larger than your child’s back. A good rule of measure for height is measuring from the shoulder (where the straps will rest) to the waistline (level of the belly button) and add up to 2 inches to that measurement. For width, measure in between the 2 outer ridges of the shoulder blade and add up to 2 inches from there to account for possible growth.
• Encourage your children to tighten their shoulder straps so that their backpack rides higher on their back and not too low below their waistline.

Patterns, materials, and other aspects can also be thought of when purchasing a backpack- Think about what the backpack will be used for and whether you expect it to get messy or sweaty. We wish your kids all the best as they go back to school and start a new year!