Back to School .... Is Your Back Pack Safe???

Back to School Spurs Backpack Safety Concerns

My Kids go back to school on Monday so it is a good time to take a look at school Backpacks.....

The headline, "Minnesota Chiropractors Encourage Backpack Safety," appeared in the The Sacramento Bee from California published on August 3, 2013. The article explained that as students are returning to school, we need to be aware about how backpacks can create health hazards.

The release carried by PRNewswire-USNewswire from the Minnesota Chiropractic Association starts with the warning, "Over 79 million students carry a backpack to school each day. However, most students are unaware of the potential hazards such as neck and back problems that come with the improper use of backpacks."

The Minnesota Chiropractic Association release does offer some practical solutions to avoid spinal problems created from backpacks. These are:

1. Wear both shoulder straps evenly to properly distribute backpack weight.
2. Get the correct size backpack for you and/or your child.
3. Do not pack too much weight and remember that no one should carry more than 25 pounds in a backpack.
4. The backpack should not extend below the lower back. Bigger is not better.
5. Lighten the load and put the heaviest items in the backpack first keeping them close to the body.
6. Lift the backpack with your legs and place it on one shoulder strap at a time.
7. Do not leave backpacks on the floor where they can become a tripping hazard.
8. Choose a quality backpack that has wide well-cushioned shoulder straps with a lumbar support/padding.

Dr. John Maltby, Past President of the International Chiropractors Association voiced a concern about backpacks by saying, "Nothing is more important than the health and proper function of a child's nervous system. The spine houses a major part of the nervous system, the spinal cord. A healthy spine free of subluxations is essential for nervous system function. Backpacks when carried improperly, or overloaded can be a major form of stress on a young developing spine, create subluxations, and can have serious effects on nerve system function and general health."

Watching Your Back!!  Dr. Vance DC