Smart Ways To Avoid Overloading Backpacks
We are a society on the go, and that means packing along a lot of necessary stuff most of the time. In the morning it can mean stashing snacks, homework, and laptops into backpacks and on weekends it can mean packing a long a lot of sports or camping gear.
Chiropractors see the often painful results of our overloading all of the time.
Sometimes we just try to carry too much. Other times we wind up walking lopsided as we tote a heavy backpack on one side. Chiropractors report increased back, neck and shoulder pain, with most traced back to daily toting of overloaded backpacks.
If this all sounds familiar, take a closer look at what your family is toting around every day.
One chiropractor’s study found children could be carrying a backpack equal to a 29 pound load for a 132 pound woman. In that study 60 percent of the children had experienced back pain.
Chiropractors suggests you take preventive steps.
See if some of the overload can be eliminated and not hauled back and forth daily.
Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than five to ten percent of his or her body weight.
Make sure the backpack does not hang more than four inches below the waist, which would overload the shoulders.
Use both shoulder straps for an even load and make sure straps are padded and adjustable.
Check out versions that have more compartments and see if that helps with weight distribution.
Consider roller bags if your school accepts them.
If the signs of overload are showing up in back pain for your family see your chiropractor.
The chiropractor is well equipped to deal with the problem and will have suggestions to correct backpack loading for the whole family. Most of us will probably realize, that along with the kids, we are toting too much and not doing a good job of handling the load. This also occurs for women with huge handbags that hold everything, but also cause the body to tilt to one side to absorb the load.
Spinal adjustments will be used to evaluate spinal health and then after a medical history and daily activity review, the chiropractor will be able to suggest improvements and additional treatment if needed for everyone in the family. The chiropractor can also help with suggestions and exercises for kids on posture, muscle building, better diets and better sleep.
Most important advice of all: if this problem turns up don’t ignore it. Injuries as a child can lead to chronic back pain throughout adult years.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of woodleywonderworks