Back To School Tips: Backpack Safety
ck Safety Tips
• 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. 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. • 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.
WRONG
CORRECT
Aching backs and shoulders? Tingling arms? Weakened muscles? Stooped posture? Does your child have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a backpack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and wear backpacks the correct way to avoid health problems. 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 too heavy Load nomore than 10%-15% of bodyweight e strongest mid-back muscles the backpack is positioned on th back. It should rest k. Shoulder straps should be adjusted to allow the child to ck without difficulty and allow free movement of the arms. , and the backpack should not extend below the low back. ess of the child’s body weight. Carry only those items that ize the contents of the backpack by placing the heaviest e students have 2 sets of books, so as not to have to rom school. Can Help ou choose a proper backpack and fit it specifically to your es and sizes, and some have physical limitations that ditionally, a physical therapist can help improve posture lances, and trea p i that can result from improper ists can also design individualized fitness programs to ay strong—and carry their own loads! ide of the body to bear the weight of the backpack. By weight of the backpack is better distri uted.
What Our Patients Have to Say
pist in your area at www.moveforwardpt.com In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy
The staff is very friendly and helpful. “Eric is a miracle worker. I have been to two other physical therapists for chronic cervical and shoulder pain. Eric’s approach was different and spot on. I felt better after just one visit! I had pretty much given up hope of ever getting any relief from all this chronic pain and now I have hope. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend giving Reddy Care a chance to help you too.” – Nancy Beyond compassionate, professional and talented. “I have been to seven PT places and this is the only one that I would come back to and would recommend. The two therapists that I have worked with, I would put them in the top ten of all time, Beyond compassionate, professional and talented. The equipment, front desk and staff are all top notch. There is no time restraints with patients, they work with them as long as they have to.” – Annette I would recommend Reddy Care to anyone in need of PT! “My In-Home PT, Marcelo, has been working with me for almost a month and I am extremely happy with my progress thus far. He has helped me gain more strength and range of motion in my legs and will hopefully allow me to get back on my feet. I would recommend Reddy Care to anyone in need of PT!“ - John
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