Jacobson Family Chiropractic in the Media

Q: My son’s backpack for school is so heavy I am concerned he might hurt his back. How do I know how much is too much for him to carry?

If you’ve ever planned a backpacking trip, you know it’s important to pay careful attention to what’s going on your back. Only lightweight versions of the bare essentials make the cut for the journey. Distributing the weight evenly and balancing the pack can make all the difference in how well your body handles the rigors of a long hike.

Yet each day we send our kids off to school with loads of books and supplies in backpacks so heavy that they must pitch forward just to navigate the steps into the school bus. Often they sling heavy loads over one shoulder, tipping left or right as they dash off to class before the bell rings. And with limited time between classes, some kids end up lugging their backpacks around more than we might think, using them in lieu of lockers to stash their stuff.

The result, says Karen R. Jacobson, D.C., of Jacobson Family Health in Scottsdale, may alter posture, causing rounded shoulders, misalignment of the spine, pressure on nerves and muscle fatigue and imbalance.

“The added weight shifts their center of gravity and they are going to start out with postural problems,” says Jacobson. “That, of course, affects their health.” A heavy, improperly packed backpack carried the wrong way can cause tension in a child’s shoulders, neck or jaw. “Those are not normal health challenges that a child should encounter,” says Jacobson.

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