It’s that time of the year again and as you start your back to school preparations, I would like to encourage parents to be mindful of their child’s spinal health this new school year.
The back to school period is a great time to check the fitting of your child’s backpack and by making a few simple changes, can prevent poor posture and long-term spinal health issues.
Some of the signs of poor posture to look out for from an incorrectly worn backpack can include:
- forward head posture
- slouching and uneven hips.
Identifying and stopping these signs early on is important as the spine is still developing during the adolescent years.
Backpack tips
Avoiding back to school backache is easy with these simple tips on how to wear a backpack correctly:
- Size: make sure the backpack is appropriately sized and no wider than your child’s chest
- Weight: backpacks should ideally be no heavier than 10 to 15 percent of a student’s weight when packed. Ways to keep the weight of the load down is by packing only essential items and storing unrequired items in a school locker.
- Straps: both shoulder straps (preferably padded) should always be worn. Make sure to secure the sternum, waist and compression straps.
- Position: the backpack shouldn’t be worn any lower than the hollow of the lower back with all heavy items positioned at the base of the pack, closest to the spine
We are encouraging parents to have their child’s spine checked during this period. We are also offering free backpack checks during January and February. Just to make sure your child’s spinal health is not compromised.
For more information or to make an appointment, call us on 9726 0098
Alternatively, you can even click on the link below to my personal online appointment book. This will allow you to schedule a free 15-minute phone call.
