Over Weight Backpacks?

If you are a parent with a teen going to school then I am sure you have heard complaining about how heavy their backpack is? Right? This may not be the most important issue in your adult world but it sure is an issue for teens across the nation.

Keep in mind that when teens carry heavy backpacks it can become a source of chronic, low-level trauma, and can cause chronic shoulder, neck and back pain for them.

Follow up:

Parents need to be aware that heavy backpacks are considered heavy when the weight of its contents is more than 10-20% of your child's' body weight. This issue has become a cause of health problems for kids today! Now consider extended trauma to the back for those kids that must walk to school and are carrying their backpack on only one shoulder! Remember, the one shoulder look? Well that cool look is a fading fashion statement among teenagers and college students alike.

During recent trips to area colleges with my oldest daughter, I noticed that the students wore their backpacks strapped over both shoulders! It appears to this mom that the days of single strapped backpack wearing are fading!

During back to school shopping are you hearing your child complain of how heavy their backpack is? Take this opportunity to talk about the the best way to wear the backpack as well as look for lightweight backpacks too!

Signals to watch for as your child adjusts to back to school:
Is he walking bent over?
Is his posture adjusting to a sideways direction to offset the heavy load of a backpack?
Are numbness and tingling in his arms or hands becoming a part of his life?
Is he carrying 10-20% of his body weight in his backpack?

If the answer is Yes.... it is time to adjust!