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The Risks of Wearing Heavy Backpacks

Now that the school season is upon us again, it is crucial for parents to realize the risks of their children carrying heavy backpacks. With the amount of binders, textbooks and school supplies that are loaded into a student’s backpack, it’s likely that the weight is putting them at danger of developing health issues. In addition, wearing a backpack improperly can increase this risk, even if the weight load is within recommended parameters. Thus, it is important to know what can be done to help solve these problems.

If you are wondering whether the weight of your child’s backpack is too much for them, there are some symptoms that you can keep an eye out for. If you notice red marks from the straps of the backpack on their shoulders, or if your child grunts and exerts severe effort when putting it on or taking it off, then the odds are it’s too heavy. Also, if your child’s arms, shoulders or fingers often fall asleep, this could be another indicator of an excessive load.

It’s important to note how your child carries their backpack as well as its weight. If a backpack is worn improperly, it pulls on the shoulders and rests on the pelvis, which can cause shoulder or lower back pain. The straps of the backpack should be worn over both shoulders and tightened so that they feel snug, with the top of the backpack reaching shoulder level. Chest or waist straps are also recommended to help distribute the load evenly.

When buying a backpack for your child, size is an important factor in preventing injuries. An oversized backpack can be easy to fill up with more than your child is safely able to carry. A good rule to follow is that when the backpack is worn, the bottom of it should not be below the top of the hips. In addition, it is helpful to have padding on the back of the backpack and the straps.

Going back to school can be a stressful time, and it is easy for students to feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders. While this is not something to be taken lightly, it is just as important to manage the literal weight on their shoulders too. By ensuring that your child is not lugging around an excessive amount of weight and making sure that they are carrying themselves properly, you can help them to maintain a healthy lifestyle free of backpack-related injuries.