08/06/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/05/2021 18:10
By Sara Butler
It's that time of year again -- school is back! While parents everywhere let out a collective sigh of relief, there's still a lot of things to make sure your child has before the first day of school arrives, including a new backpack.
A backpack is more than a fashion accessory or a handy way to store the roughly 5,000 pounds of back-to-school supplies they need to take for the first day. A backpack is also something you must carefully choose to ensure your child's spine remains healthy throughout the school year.
For the most part, choosing a new backpack for your child is a fairly straightforward process, but there are some do's and don'ts that parents should abide by. Here are some handy tips from the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic to help get the school year off on the right foot!
Kids are resilient. They look at you funny and may even ask why you're always complaining about aches and pains. After all, most kids can attempt physical feats that would sideline an adult for days and bounce back right afterward. Even with that amazing physical resiliency, it's still important to choose the right backpack to keep back, shoulder, and neck pain at bay. A child carrying the wrong backpack or continuously carrying a backpack that is too heavy for them will start to feel it.
One of the most important things to understand about backpacks is that they're not one-size-fits-all. Your child may be wowed by the colors or characters on a backpack, but it's important you look past that and look at the size to judge if it's right for your child.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, these are the things you should be looking for when helping your child choose the right backpack:
Now that you know how to choose the best type of backpack to fit your child, there are a few tips you should use to educate your children to ensure their ongoing spinal health while using a backpack:
Kids notoriously don't listen to their parents. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they may encounter back issues even if you follow the guidelines for getting the right backpack and counsel your child on how to use it correctly. Should this happen, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic are here to help.
If your child experiences shoulder pain, neck discomfort, or even muscle spasms, then you need to make sure they see the chiropractor. Gentle, hands-on chiropractic adjustments can help to resolve joint dysfunctions that may be present due to improper backpack usage. Plus, the chiropractors can help to reinforce how to wear and use a backpack correctly to help them improve their posture as they restore proper function.
Setting up your child for success this school year starts with choosing the right backpack. It's one of the easiest things you can do to ensure your child's continued health and wellness. If you have any questions about backpacks and your child's health, then the chiropractors at The Joint are happy to help!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.