Now that we're a couple week into the school year, hopefully you and your kids are settling into the new routines and rhythms.  As the school year goes on, homework, books, and projects will increase, which means more weight added to the backpack.  Proper backpack use is very important to how much pain you or your child might experience. 

Did you know that a child's backpack should weigh no more than 10-15% of their body weight? It's easy to lose track of what's going in and out of those packs, so we've compiled a list of backpack safety tips and weekly habits that can help minimize the strain on your child's back.

A healthy spine and nervous system is important for everyone, but is especially important for kids and teens. During the various stages of youth, kids’ bodies and minds are still developing; the habits they have now will impact how they feel and can influence their health in the future.

Helping kids maintain their health with chiropractic care has great benefits, including improving posture, decreasing the chance of injury, decreasing the likelihood and/or impact of spinal problems such as scoliosis, and improving overall health.

Chiropractic has no age limits and kids can benefit greatly from beginning chiropractic before they reach adulthood.  Studies have shown that children who receive regular chiropractic care are less frequently sick, are able to concentrate better, and are generally healthier. As a parent, you can give your kids the gift of health.

Here are four things that you can do today to help improve your child’s spinal health:

• Chiropractic care. Just as children need good hygiene, regular dental care, and proper nutrition, they also need regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic care will help to restore and maintain normal spinal and nervous system function, allowing a child’s body to develop optimally.

• Regular chiropractic care will vary for each child.  Some kids may only need a check up every now and then, while others may need to be seen more often. Whatever the frequency is for your child, it is important and helpful to have a professional assess the health of their spine.  Having a “baseline” will make it easier to detect changes and evaluate how they are progressing as they grow.
• If your child participates in contact sports such as football, the need for chiropractic is dramatically increased.  The impact of these contact sports can cause concussions as well as strains on their musculoskeletal system.  Seeing a chiropractor regularly can help ensure that they are properly aligned and make it easier to detect when changes occur or new symptoms arise.

For most kids, school is back in session or will be very soon.  In addition to all the back to school supplies you’ve been shopping for, the backpacks to carry these supplies are needed as well.  Whether you’re reusing an old backpack or buying a new one, the backpack your child carries could have an impact on their bodies that you might not be aware of.  Recent studies have indicated that carrying heavy backpacks is causing an increase in back pain among our youth. 

And it’s not just for your kids.  Maybe you’ve decided to go back to school to finish a new degree or prefer to carry your personal and work items in a backpack.  

Carrying a heavy backpack puts a lot of strain on the shoulders and back, but it can also influence you or your child’s posture.  To balance the weight of a heavy bag, the body will compensate by leaning forward.  This counterbalance can contribute to head forward posture, which you can learn more about here.

The American Chiropractic Association has recommended a few steps to help minimize the negative effects of carrying heavy backpacks.  We've shared them with you below, along with a few of our own.  

Tips for purchasing a new pack:

If you’ve already purchased a new backpack for the school year, it might not be too late.  Many stores allow refunds for certain periods of time and if the backpack you purchased is causing your child pain, it will be worthwhile to keep looking for the right pack. Otherwise, you will find tips below on how to make the best of the backpack you have.