Millions of children struggle under the weight of an overstuffed backpack, putting themselves at risk of injury.

Parents should inspect their child’s backpack from time to time. They often carry much more than they should with extra shoes, toys and other unnecessary items.

A backpack shouldn’t weigh more than 15 percent of the child’s weight, or about seven pounds for a child who weighs 50 pounds. If it is textbooks that are making the bag too heavy, parents should speak with the teacher—sometimes these books can be left at school.

To prevent injury, children should also wear a backpack correctly over both shoulders to spread the weight evenly. Alternately, they should consider a wheeled backpack.

Heavy backpacks breed poor posture because they encourage children to bend forward to compensate for the heavy load. This puts a strain on their backs and pressure on their disks. It is important for parents and school officials to understand that even if a backpack is light, if the weight is not distributed correctly, there can be long-term problems.

If the child experiences persistent pain, parents should consult with their chiropractor, who may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the back muscles. Some indicators of trouble include when the child’s posture changes while wearing the backpack, when they struggle to put it on, or any pain, tingling or red marks.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.