Back to School: Correct Posture and Backpack Use for Children From Your Pediatric Chiropractor In Tracy

It's time to shop for clothes and supplies throughout the Tracy area. It's back to school season which also means thousands of children in the area will be loading backpacks with supplies, books, and the necessities of school. Backpacks have become a back to school staple, but they can also create posture problems and back pain. Your pediatric chiropractor in Tracy, Mountain House and Manteca would like to offer some backpack safety tips to help prevent potential back, neck and spinal problems in children.

Backpack Safety Starts with Weight Limits

The easiest step you can take in backpack safety is limiting the weight that is put into your child's backpack. A full backpack should never exceed 15% of your child's weight. For example, if your child weighs 50 pounds, their backpack and contents shouldn't weight more than 7.5 lbs. In a perfect case scenario weight should be limited to 10% or less. You may want to weigh your child's backpack regularly to make sure weight doesn't cause undo pressure.

Selecting the Right Backpack: Tips From Your Tracy Chiropractor

When selecting a backpack with your child, they’re looking for their favorite colors and characters. However, you want to ensure that the backpack is also comfortable and functional. For maximum backpack safety select backpacks with:

• An ergonomic design

• The correct size: never wider or longer than your child's torso and never hanging more than 4 inches below the waist

• Padded back and shoulder straps

• Hip and chest belts to help transfer some of the weight to the hips and torso

• Multiple compartments to better distribute the weight

• Compression straps on the sides or bottom to stabilize the contents

• Reflective material

Posture and Backpack Safety

Wearing backpacks incorrectly can also lead to posture and back issues that can lead to chiropractic care. Make sure your child uses both straps of their backpack. It will also help if you tighten the straps appropriately. Make sure your child tries to stand as straight as possible when putting on their backpack. Following these simple tips can help lead to improved posture and fewer back issues now and in the future.

Call for an Appointment Today

If your child has been experiencing back pain, contact your pediatric chiropractor in Tracy, Mountain House and Manteca. Contact the office most convenient for you so we can answer your questions and set up your first appointment.