How does your childs back pack rate?
Carrying more than 10%-15% of your body weight in a backpack can cause damage to the spine and nervous system,
Lafayette, IN (PRWEB) August 02, 2015
Back packs can be dangerous? Whaaat?!
Not the danger that guns and drugs can cause in a school, however, back packs can wreck havoc on a kid's spine. With school starting again, most kids will be asking for new backpacks to help carry their supplies to and from school. Make sure you are aware of how to help them prevent injuries by understanding backpack safety.
"Carrying more than 10%-15% of your body weight in a backpack can cause damage to the spine and nervous system," Dr. Goble said. "Being proactive and checking out the weight is important. However, equally important is how the child carries the back pack. That's why we are providing this service."
An example: if your child weighs 50 pounds they shouldn’t be carrying a backpack that weighs more than 5-7 pounds. With the increase in homework this may prove challenging. One suggestions is to use a backpack with wheels, and organize the backpack so that the heaviest items are the ones that are closest to the back. Remember bigger isn’t always better (it's harder to over stuff a smaller back pack).
Note if your child’s posture changes when they are wearing their backpack. Do they arch their back more or slump more? All of these are signs that the backpack is too heavy or not fitting correctly.
Call the AlignLife of Lafayette office at 764-477-7707 to set up an appointment time to have your back pack checked. This complimentary service can help you save health care costs.