Your Chiropractor in Naples Has Suggestions for Backpack Safety

Seems like it was just yesterday that school let out and the whole summer was ahead. Now, the summer has disappeared and the new school year is around the corner. The store aisles full of school supplies—pens, pencils, paper, lunch boxes, notebooks, backpacks and more—are proof. And speaking of backpacks, you need to make sure your children won’t develop health issues from incorrectly carrying that load on their backs. At Wills Chiropractic, your chiropractor in Naples, we can evaluate your child and his or her backpack in order to make suggestions for improvement. Read on to learn more about backpacks and back pain in children and adolescents.

Backpack Back Pain

Time Magazine reported on a study conducted at the University of California, San Diego which concluded that “backpack loads are responsible for a significant amount of back pain in children. The same study says a full third of kids aged 11 to 14 report back pain.” Children and teens with large and heavy backpacks may complain of back pain as well as neck and shoulder pain and headaches, too.

The Trouble with Backpacks

According to Dr. Wills, the general accepted safety guidelines is for children to wear backpacks that weigh no more than five to 10 percent of their body weight. A heavier backpack can cause a child to flex forward in order to be able to support the increased load on their back rather than on their shoulders. A heavier backpack also increases the load to the lower back causing excess strain.

Backpack Rules

To avoid back pain in Naples schoolchildren, Dr. Wills offers the following suggestions:

• Don’t allow your children to wear backpacks that hang far below the waistline
• Urge children to wear a backpack using both shoulder straps to more evenly distribute the backpack’s weight
• Choose a backpack that has wide adjustable straps for better customized placement and comfort

Chiropractic Evaluation of Backpack Use

At Wills Chiropractic, we perform three-dimensional computer scans to evaluate the impact a backpack is having on your child. The first scan is taken while your child is not wearing his or her backpack. The second scan is taken with the backpack. Then, we measure and plot reference points on your son or daughter’s head, torso and pelvis. These measurements are compared from both scans in order to determine if there is a posture deformity and to what extent. Based on this information, Dr. Wills makes recommendations for changes that will improve your child’s posture and reduce excessive strain. A third scan is taken after these changes are made to show what kind of improvement is possible.

Contact Us Before Your Children Head Back to School

You may not be able to help with modern math, but you can help your children wear their backpacks properly. Call Wills Chiropractic to schedule an appointment.