At the start of the year, thousands of children prepare for returning to school. Children often spend hours a week carrying backpacks.
With so many items going into a child’s bag, here are some backpack tips from the Australian Chiropractors’ Association’s (ACA) Back to School campaign:
- Only pack essentials to lessen the load, perhaps use school lockers if available.
- Pack the heaviest items closest to the spine and make sure all zippers are done up all the way.
- Secure the sternum and waist straps (they’re there for a reason).
- Always wear both straps. Tell the kids it’s not cool to ‘one-strap’ it anymore.
- Reduce the time wearing the backpack to no more than 30 minutes at any one time.
You might like to check out the Spartan Chiropak II which has the ACA’s endorsement: https://spartanss.com.au/collections/bags/products/bags_chiropak
There are many possible causes of spinal pain in children, but poorly packed, heavy and incorrectly fitted backpacks may be contributing factors.
Regular uneven loads on the spine can cause spinal misalignment and nervous system interference.
When this happens, the control system of your child’s body will no longer be working properly.
This can lead to problems such as poor body position sense affecting posture and movement.
The nervous system also controls many other aspects of your child’s health, such as digestion and immune function.
Chiropractors are experts in diagnosis and management of spine and nervous system related conditions.
If you have questions about your child’s backpack or if they are suffering from spinal pain, they may benefit from having their spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor.
If you would like some more information about the spine and nervous system and how it relates to your health, please check out the other articles on our Facebook page or go to our website: www.spinecentre.com.au.
Also, make sure you read the other interesting articles we post on the current topic – Back to School.