Correct Backpack Usage for Kids and Teens

 Preparing to send your kids back to school? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, shares tips for proper backpack usage.

How to Use a Backpack Properly

Backpacks are essential for school, as they help young kids and teens carry everything needed for a prepared day. Unfortunately, they are often responsible for neck, shoulder, and back pain. As a parent, the last thing you want is to cause your children pain, but you might feel hopeless in this area – but you’re not.

While you might not be able to control how much homework they have, you can take steps to reduce or eliminate their pain. Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center shares tips below to help parents of Nitro, WV, for choosing, packing, and using a backpack.

Pick a Backpack That’s Just Big Enough

The backpack should not be bigger than your child’s back. The larger it is, the harder it can be to distribute weight properly. And it can be a temptation for students to add extras. Keep it small so that there’s just enough room for the essentials.

Keep the Weight in Check

If the packed backpack is more than 10% of your child’s weight, it’s too heavy. Let your child carry some books or their lunch box by hand and dump the non-essentials.

Put the Straps to Use

Adjust the straps so that the bag doesn’t hang below your child’s waist. Use the waist strap to keep the backpack from moving around as your child walks. Ensure your child uses both shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly. Also, look for padded straps to help relieve some of the pressure on the shoulders and neck.

Strategically Pack the Backpack

The heaviest items should always be closest to the body and at the bottom. Having multiple pockets can provide more opportunities for proper weight distribution.

Keep Your Child’s Spine Healthy

Between wearing backpacks, carrying heavy items, sitting for hours, and sports – for those who play – it’s not unusual for there to be some issues along the spine. Visiting a chiropractor regularly can help maintain spinal wellness and undo the damage your child sustains during their school career.

Let Dr. McClanahan and our Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center team help your student have a pain-free, healthy school year in Nitro, WV. For more backpack tips, sports performance, or other school-year concerns, call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

Backpack Safety

As a chiropractor and high school sports doctor, Dr. Jay McClanahan recognizes the importance of keeping kids safe from back pain. Now is the time when families are making back-to-school purchases, and knowing how to use the right backpack could make a big difference to kids’ well-being.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends that backpacks never be filled to the point where they weigh more than 15% of the weight of the person wearing them. This means that people should avoid wearing backpacks with wheels and pull-out handles. Children will also need to plan when to swap out textbooks at their lockers and avoid carrying anything they don’t really need. A good way to tell if a backpack is too heavy is to observe whether a child strains when picking it up. If they do, some things need to be taken out.

It is also important to choose a backpack that can be worn correctly. The shoulder straps should be wide and padded, and there should be a strap across the chest. When the straps are tightened, the backpack should rest in the center of the upper back, but the straps should not be tight enough to cut off circulation to the arms. Both shoulder straps should always be worn and parents should ask their children whether they’ve experienced any pain in their backs, necks, or shoulders.

Dr. Jay McClanahan operates the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, West Virginia, 25143. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr J Back Doc WV or call 304-776-1520.