Chiropractor in Seattle Discusses How to Properly Wear a Backpack

Hey, it’s Dr. Zapata with Emerald City Spinal Care in Seattle! With students heading back to school, I thought this would be a great time to share some tips on how to properly wear a backpack!

Did you know that backpacks are a leading cause of back pain in Seattle, neck pain and shoulder pain for millions of students? With that in mind, I am going to share three simple tips with you on how to properly wear your backpack in order to avoid injury!

Tip # 1: It is important to make sure that the backpack you are using is the correct size. It should not be wider or longer than your torso, and it should not hang more than 4 inches below your waistline. If your backpack hangs too low, it can put extra pressure on your neck and shoulders.

Tip # 2: This one is all about shoulder straps. It is important for those in Seattle to make sure that the backpack you select has two shoulder straps, and that those straps are both padded and adjustable. Adjustable straps help ensure that the backpack can be worn so that the weight is distributed evenly across your body. It is also important to make sure that both shoulder straps are being used. If you are carrying your backpack on a single shoulder, that will cause an uneven weight distribution, which can result in neck, shoulder and back pain.

Tip #3: Make sure that your backpack has several different compartments. Having many different compartments is going to help you to position the contents of your backpack more effectively. Furthermore, when putting items in a backpack, it is important to put the heaviest items, such as books, in the compartment that will be closest to your body.

Now, one final note. Ideally, you will not want the backpack you are wearing to exceed more than ten percent of your body weight.

If you suffer from severe or persistent pain while wearing a backpack, and these tips do not help, it may indicate that you have some structural imbalances that need to be addressed, and if you want to learn if you may be a candidate for chiropractic care, a free consultation appointment with one of our amazing doctors at Emerald City Spinal Care is never more than a phone call away!

From all of us, thanks and have an amazing week!

- Dr. Zapata and the Emerald City Spinal Care Team