Back to School

• Make sure your child’s backpack never weighs more than 5-10% of their body weight. A heavier bag will cause your child to bend forward in attempt to support the weight on their back rather than on their shoulders by the straps.
• The backpack should never hang more than a few inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
• A backpack with individualised compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.
• Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side and can lead to neck or back pain.
• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and lead to back pain.
• Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable and can dig in to your child’s shoulders.
• Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is, the more your child will carry – and the heavier the backpack will be.
• Make sure your child is not carrying any unnecessary weight – check that all the items in their bag are essential.
• If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school and bring home only lighter hand-out material or workbooks.

A healthy child’s body is very resilient but just like in adults sometimes day to day activities can begin to take their toll.

The majority of school children today now use computers both at home and at school. Due to increased usage due to homework and social networking sites chiropractors are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either designed for adults or poorly designed for children.