Bag Check

As kids start to return to school it's a good time to check that their bag won’t be weighing them down. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when looking for the ideal school bag to support their back and maintain good posture

Choosing the bag

Straps - Bags should have two shoulder straps that are wide, padded and adjustable. Having the ability to tighten them enables the load to sit closer to their back instead of leaving a gap. Single strap bags may look cool but they can create in an imbalance of load on the body so best to avoid these where possible. If the bag has a chest and/or waist belt then that is an added bonus. These may not look super cool when buckled up but they do help to transfer weight evenly.

Style - Choose a bag with lots of compartments as it allows you to distribute the load more evenly. It also helps to find things easily which is an added bonus.

Packing the bag

Always pack heavier items lower and to the center. Make sure the bag isn’t too heavy for your child - it should weigh a maximum of 10% of your child’s weight once packed.

Wearing the bag

It is best to make sure that they wear their bags with both shoulder straps to spread the load. The bag should not be wider or longer than their torso when worn. Once worn the bag should not be lower than the waistline by more than 10cm. If it sits too low it will add too much pressure to their shoulders. Wearing it too high will cause them to hunch their shoulders forward.

Hopefully, you’ve found these tips helpful. If you notice your child’s posture still doesn’t look quite right after following these guidelines then have a chat with your Chiropractor to see if it may be worth bringing them in for an assessment.

-Dr Dipal Patel