RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – Wearing a backpack properly can save kids and teens a lot of issues down the line.
Megan Stankowski is an Aspirus Physical Therapist. She says she regularly sees students with back, neck, and shoulder pains because they’re not wearing their backpacks correctly. “My mom always used to tell me, ‘You’re going to pay for it when you get older’ and it is true. Them carrying all that weight all day long they can pay for it down the road. It doesn’t just have to happen that day.”
To avoid back-related injuries from backpacks, Stankowski recommends students use their lockers to store books. This will lessen the weight of the packs.
The heaviest items should be packed closest to your back. And the backpack should fit snuggly and worn with both straps.
Stankowski says if students are still in pain after making these adjustments, they should seek medical attention. “The injuries that happen with backpacks can be treated through physical therapy by doing some stretching, some strengthening, and some education in lifting mechanics and postural mechanics. If the backpack’s too heavy the child might be leaning forward too far. If one strap is too loose or they tend to carry it on one side they might be leaning a lot and then we have to do some posture corrections, some muscle strengthening, and just some body awareness.”
Stankowski says people shouldn’t carry more than 15% of their body weight in a backpack.
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