Buying a Backpack for Back to School!

Posted by tutordoctorva ⋅ July 10, 2012

The calendar reads July.  It’s 100 degrees outside and your ears are still ringing from 4th of July fireworks so, of course, it’s time to think about “back to school”.  I’m sure if you check your email box and your Sunday circulars, you already have seen the sales.  I’m never one to pass up a bargain so one of the first things you may consider buying that all important backpack.
If you were a teenager in the 80′s and  ‘90’s chances are one of your shoulders is slightly lower than the other. Why? Because carrying your school backpack over one shoulder was the fashion back then. Lugging a heavy backpack over one shoulder every day for years is sure to have a negative impact on your posture.
Backpacks are an essential part of school life – they are an effective way for students to transport their books and other essentials to school. However, when used incorrectly, they may cause injury to joints and muscles. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, improperly used backpacks can lead to severe back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems. If backpacks are too heavy and are work incorrectly, they can result in serious, sometimes lasting, musculoskeletal problems for children and teenagers.
Experts recommend that children carry no more than 10 to 20 percent of their body weight. If your child has to carry a heavy backpack on the rare occasion, injury is unlikely; it’s the continuous wear and tear over their school careers that causes the most damage. When choosing a backpack for your student, don’t just go for something that’s fashionable or cute, try to consider the following:
Choosing a backpack • Waist strap • Lightweight • Wide, padded shoulder straps • Two shoulder straps • Padded back
Using a backpack The best way to ensure good posture and avoid injury is simply to use the backpack properly. This means that your student should always use both shoulder straps. Place the backpack on your student’s back when it is full. Now tighten the straps so that the weight is distributed evenly. The backpack should be positioned in the middle of the back. Using a waist strap reduces the pull on the shoulders by distributing weight to the hips. This is especially helpful on days when your student has a heavy load. Check the backpacks of younger students regularly to ensure that they are only carrying the essentials. Encourage your students to go through their backpacks regularly to remove any unnecessary items.
Telltale signs your student’s backpack is causing problems: • Students lean to one side when walking with a backpack • Students complain of back pain, neck pain or headaches • Students lean forward when walking with a backpack
Alternatives to backpacks If your students complain of back pain consider alternatives to the backpack. You can get a bag on wheels so that your student doesn’t have to carry a backpack or get a second set of textbooks to keep at home. Strengthening your student’s core muscles will help to support the heavy backpacks. You can ask your student’s gym teacher for exercises that help, start swimming or yoga or download exercise videos from the Internet.