Knapsacks, Rucksacks, Backpacks and Schoolbags for Back-to-School

Sep 05, 2006 • High School, Middle School

A new school year is here! And with the new school year comes new school gear… like new clothes, new binders and new backpacks.

But did you know that choosing a backpack should not be made on the basis of style alone? In fact, backpacks should be considered more like sports equipment – in order to get optimum performance they must fit properly, especially since the load they lug can cause damage to spines, shoulders and lower backs.

According to the COCSA – the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations – an over-packed knapsack can have a detrimental impact on posture and on spinal health because students typically carry more than the recommended national guidelines of 10-15% of their body weight, and due to the added weight up to 60% of children will experience back pain by the time they reach the age of 18.

Follow these simple rules to make sure that the backpack burden isn’t too much to bear:

• Make sure to get a bag that fits properly and is neither too small nor too big
• Look for wide shoulder straps that are padded
• Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly
• Tighten the shoulder straps so that the bag sits two inches above the waist
• Heavier items should be placed closest to the body
• If there is a waist strap, use it-it helps with weight distribution.

Child to Backpack weight chart