10-13 year olds carry, on average, 25.3 pounds, almost 3 times the recommended load on their growing spines! That’s a lot of stress on the spine and tension on the nervous system structures protected within. In 2013 alone, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission cited 5,415 backpack-related injuries treated in emergency rooms. Here are some tips for safe backpack use:
1. Child’s backpacks should weigh no more than 5-10% of their body 
weight.
weight.2. The backpack should be the correct size for your child.
3. Straps should be adjustable, padded, and worn on both shoulders.
4. EMG scanning is a quick procedure I perform in my office that is a powerful and easy way to check your child’s posture and muscular balance, and learn how chiropractic can protect their spine from daily stressors, like backpack use.
