Health Services

Heavy Backpacks

Research shows that children carrying more than 10% of their body weight is damaging to their spinal and postural health. Just because you can’t see the internal damage, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! Have you ever wondered how this is affecting my child?

• For every 1 inch the head is carried in front of the spine (anterior head carriage), the head weighs 10 more pounds. Studies have shown significant changes in anterior head carriage with heavy backpacks. This can not only cause stress/pain in the neck and shoulders, but because of the altered overall posture, the whole spine, joints, tendons, and muscles can be affected.
• School-age children’s spines are still growing, and substantial changes at this point in their growth could cause irreparable damage.
• If our children are focusing on pain, they are not able to focus on their school work and learning.
• Any change in the environment of the nervous system, whether through tightening of the muscles, vascular changes, or spinal deviations from the norm, can cause short-term and long-term effects on the health of an individual.

Most of these findings are PREVENTABLE, if caught early!! So, what can you do to help?

Watch the video at www.bacsupport.com

Make sure your child's backpack is worn correctly and weighs no more than 10% of their body weight.

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