Chiropractor explains how heavy bags could affect students’ backs

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. — With kids getting ready to go back to school, parents are loading backpacks with books and supplies, preparing for a successful year.

We all know how heavy those textbooks can get, but what you may not know is that piling those books and supplies into your backpack and not wearing it properly can cause unwanted issues further down the line.

We sat down with Mina Whitmer at Jernigan Chiropractic in Ocean Springs to learn more about how students can avoid those long-term effects. Whitmer says she has school aged patients who come to her with back pain, usually caused by their backpacks, and for athletes, the addition of a practice bag on top of their everyday school bag.

She says that weight and position on the back make a big difference. Girls should not carry bags that weigh more than 15% of their body weight, and for boys, no more than 20%.

It’s also important to have a comfortable and appropriately sized backpack that sits high on your back, and when you pack those books, make sure the heaviest ones sit close to your back.

If you do start to experience back pain, you may just need to tighten your backpack straps, or take a bit of the weight out of it. There are also stretches you can do to help. But, if you really need it, stop by your chiropractor for a realignment.

To start the school year off right, be mindful of your backpack weight and how you’re carrying it. Your back will thank you for it in the long run.