It’s almost time to send our little (or perhaps not so little) treasures back to school. But did you know that if your child’s bag is overloaded or carried over one shoulder, they could be at risk of straining the soft tissues in their backs? Overtime, this can lead to spinal column damage and muscular imbalance. It’s a very real risk that many children are literally carrying around every day.

Here at Pure Chiropractic in Staines, we are treating more and more school children as a result of improper use of backpacks. In the majority of cases, these children tend to carry their bags on one shoulder only. Some are carrying bags that are simply too heavy for their small bodies to cope with.

It’s incredibly simple to ensure that your child’s backpack doesn’t pose a risk for their spine health. Before your child leaves for school, check that their bag, with its contents included, weighs no more than 10 % of their body weight.  Also make sure that they wear their backpack on two shoulders.

Small checks and a little education can make an enormous difference to your child’s risk of developing back pain.