Backpacks can be a pain in the neck and back - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Backpacks can be a pain in the neck and back

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 3:54 PM EDT2013-05-23 19:54:34 GMT
    A Dougherty County rape crisis center hopes to raise $15,000 at a tasty event Thursday night at the Merry Acres Event Center. The Lily Pad Center provides support services to more than 300 child victims
     The Lily Pad Center provides support services to more than 300 child victims and roughly 150 adults every year. About two hundred people are expected to show up for the fourth annual 'Farm to Fork' Fundraiser.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:33:20 GMT
    Three Albany men, charged with beating a man in a bar parking lot so viciously they fractured his skull. are found guilty of different levels of involvement in their trial. After three hours of deliberation
    A guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation, as three Albany men are found guilty of different levels of involvement in their aggravated assault trial.

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 12:25 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:25:08 GMT
    Army Specialist Ciara Smith surprised her son Devin Lewis and her mother Carla Williams today at Devin's Kindergarten graduation at Harper Elementary School in Thomasville. Smith just returned from her
    Army Specialist Ciara Smith surprised her son Devin Lewis and her mother Carla Williams today at Devin's Kindergarten graduation at Harper Elementary School in Thomasville.
    •   

August 2, 2007

Albany -- Getting everything together for the new school year isn't just a hassle for parents. The load some kids carry can literally be a pain in the neck and back for them.

Healthcare professionals say children shouldn't carry more than ten percent of there body weight.

Backpacks that weigh more can lead to upper and lower back strain. One way to prevent injury is to make sure straps on school bags are well adjusted.

"One of the things they'll do is leave the straps real loose and that tends to pull them in an extended position," Leesburg Chiropractic, Dr. M. Chad Larson said. "Or if its to heavy of a load, there fighting the load and they're having to pull forward and that is also very hard on the neck and upper back."

Backpacks with wider padded straps are better at preventing injury. Children should also make sure that books are placed upright in book bags.

They should always use both straps when wearing their backpacks. One way to prevent injury is to make sure straps on school bags are well adjusted.

feedback: news@walb.com?subject=BackpackHealth/DR