It’s that time of the year again and as back to school preparations are taking place Dr Damien, Dr Michael and Dr Sharni are encouraging parents to be mindful of their child’s spinal heath this new school year. The back to school period is a great time for parents to check the fitting of their child’s backpack and by making a few simple changes may help prevent poor posture and long-term spinal health issues.

Dr Damien Nagalingum of Essential Chiropractic and Healthcare clinic says some of the signs of poor posture to look out for from an incorrectly worn backpack may include:

  • forward head posture
  • slouching
  • uneven hips
  • complaints of shoulder, neck or back pain

How do your children avoid back to school backache? It is easy with these simple tips on how to wear a backpack correctly: 
-Size: make sure the backpack is appropriately sized and no wider than the child’s chest.

Weight: backpacks should ideally be no heavier than 10 per cent of a student’s weight when packed. Some of the ways to keep the weight of the load down is by packing only essential items and storing unrequired items in a school locker.

Straps: both shoulder straps (preferably padded) should always be worn. Make sure to secure the sternum, waist and compression straps.

Position: the backpack shouldn’t be worn any lower than the hollow of the lower back with all heavy items positioned at the base of the pack, closest to the spine. 

Essential Chiropractic and healthcare clinic welcomes parents to make an appointment at one of our locations in Reservoir or Ivanhoe for more advice and assistance on selecting the right backpack and making sure it is fitted correctly.

For more information on how to maintain a healthy spine, please visit www.echirohealth.com or call our clinic on 94703443 today.