Picking out the latest and greatest backpack is an end-of-summer tradition for many young
students, but this essential back-to-school item has the potential to cause a lifetime of back
and neck ailments. Here are some tips to correctly choose and use a backpack:

• Select a backpack that is appropriate to the student’s size and age. Smaller backs will need smaller packs.
• Select a backpack with padded shoulder straps and always wear both straps in order to evenly distribute the load.
• Select a backpack with reflective material to help students to be more visible to buses and cars.
• A backpack should weigh no more than 10-15 percent of the student’s body weight.
• Load the heaviest items closest to the student’s back to help distribute weight evenly.
• Adjust shoulder straps so that the backpack fits snugly to the back.
• Clip the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps to distribute the backpack’s weight more evenly.
If children wear backpacks that are too heavy and packed improperly, they may be causing themselves a lifetime of aches and pains.
Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.