Back-to-School Backpack Safety: Know What Your Chiropractor Knows

Staff Writer

Here’s a back-to-school item that most of us parents miss on our “things to do for school” list: backpack safety. Have you seen your child struggling to put their backpack on, bending forward while it is on, or complaining of pain? These may be signs that your child’s backpack may weigh too much. Your chiropractor – your musculoskeletal specialist – is acutely aware of the pain or discomfort this can cause.

According to the National Safety Council, it’s common to see children carrying as much as a quarter of their body weight – too much for a child whose physical frame is still developing. (For comparison, says one chiropractor, imagine you’re an adult weighing 170 pounds and have to lug around a 42.5 lb weight to multiple office locations every day.)

In contrast, the American Chiropractic Association says a backpack should be no more than 5% to 10% of a child’s weight. Remember, that includes the weight of a full water container.

How to Ensure Backpack Safety This School Year

1. When selecting a backpack

• Make sure the backpack is no wider than your child’s torso.
• Shoulder straps should be padded and adjustable.
• A padded back can protect against your child getting poked in the back by the contents.
• Waist and chest straps may help distribute the weight evenly.
• Consider a pulled backpack with wheels if appropriate to your child’s situation
• Reflective material so your child can be seen if they need to walk to and from school.

2. Packing the backpack

A big, roomy backpack may seem like a great choice. However, this may lead to your child putting unessential items in there, adding unnecessary weight and bulk.

• Teach them what is and is not essential and instruct them to leave those items at home, in their locker, or classroom.
• Show your child how to load their backpack correctly. The heaviest and biggest items should go in first and be in the back part of the backpack. Small items can be put into multiple compartments to keep the backpack organized.
• If the backpack has multiple pockets/side compartments, teach your child how to distribute the weight evenly.

3. Carrying the backpack

Chiropractors always recommend that children use both straps when carrying their backpacks. Using only one strap (although adding a coolness factor) causes the weight to shift to one side and may cause pain, spinal misalignment, or balance/posture problems.

• The shoulder straps should be tightened so the backpack is properly fitted to your child’s back.
• If the backpack has a waist or chest strap, consider using it. Waist straps help to distribute the weight load to the hips; a chest strap keeps the shoulder straps aligned and prevents the backpack from swaying.
• A backpack should not hang lower than four inches below the waist. You want the backpack to be high on your child’s back.

The Role of Chiropractors in Today’s Healthcare Landscape

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession focusing on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractors practice a conservative, non-pharmaceutical approach to healthcare.

The core purpose of chiropractic practice and procedure is to relieve interference caused by disturbed joint biomechanics through skilled manual assessment and correction. All states require a chiropractor to have earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam, and be licensed in their state.

CUKC Chiropractic Health Center

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 1922, our mission is to educate and develop leaders in health promotion education and behaviors.

The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. Our goal is to provide chiropractic care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.