Back saving tips for “back to school”

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Your backpack can actually cause you some problems if you aren’t careful, we spoke to a chiropractor to learn how.

We all know our backpacks throughout the school year can get heavy and that can actually cause some problems down the road if not careful. Carrying a lot of weight on your back over a lengthy period of time improperly can lead to pain and misalignment of your spine which can be troublesome for anyone especially younger kids. To get some more insight, we talked to Dr. Chad Folk, a chiropractic doctor, for a few minutes to learn what he recommends.

Dr. Folk said that your backpack shouldn’t be any heavier than 15 percent of your body weight. The doctor also said not wearing your backpack properly can be a problem as well. Folk said a trend among kids and teens that proves damaging is just wearing one strap. He also pointed out that some backpacks are simply the wrong size, being too loose which can also distribute weight unevenly.

Folk said to avoid a trip to his office, parents and kids should pay attention to how much goes into backpacks, how well they fit and look for the most functional bag which would ideally have wider straps to distribute the weight.