Preventing Back Pain In Kids — How to Choose the Right Backpack

Shopping for clothes and back to school supplies are part of the routine of every school year. New backpacks are part of that list too. But backpacks need to do more than just look great. A poorly fitting backpack can cause chronic back pain in kids and is probably one of the most common reason for back pain in the school age population. According to an article in the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should use the following guidelines to purchase a backpack for their kids.

1. Kids should carry no more than 10-15% of their body weight on their back.

2. Backpacks should be worn on both shoulders not slung over one shoulder (even though they might think it looks cooler that way).

3. Straps should be wide and padded.

4. Backpacks should include a waist belt.

5. Backpacks should rest on the lower part of the back and not sag down. Straps should be tightened appropriately.

6. Rolling bags are an option but from personal experience, they are hard to use in the snow, up the stairs and are very bulky.

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