SEPTEMBER 2020 The Therapy Bulletin The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body Helping You Get Back to Life
PREPARING FOR BACK TO SCHOOL with Backpack Safety Tips
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Wearing the Backpack • Distribute weight evenly by using both straps. Wearing a backpack slung over one shoulder can cause a child to lean to one side, curving the spine and causing pain or discomfort. • Select a backpack with well-padded shoulder straps. Shoulders and necks have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands when too much pressure is applied. • Adjust the shoulder straps so that the backpack fits snugly on the child’s back. A backpack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles. • Wear the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps distribute the backpack’s weight more evenly. • The bottom of the backpack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child’s waistline.
Loading the Backpack • A child’s backpack should weigh no more than about 10% of his or her body weight. This means a student weighing 100 pounds shouldn’t wear a loaded school backpack heavier than about 10 pounds. • Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back (the back of the backpack). • Arrange books and materials so they won’t slide around in the backpack. • Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary for the day’s activities. • If the backpack is too heavy or tightly packed, your child can hand carry a book or other item outside the backpack. • If the backpack is too heavy on a regular basis, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child’s school allows it.
• School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Choose the right size backpack for your child as well as one with enough room for necessary school items. • Only put items in your backpack that you need for the day. Call today to see how our services can help your child stay pain-free.
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