BOOK NOW
CALL (03) 9001 1301
First Choice Health
Book an Appointment
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Telehealth Physiotherapy
    • Clinical Pilates
    • Dry Needling
    • Rehabilitation
    • Sports Physio
  • Products
    • Products 1
      • ASO Ankle Brace
      • CAM Boot
      • Core Stability Belt
      • Fitness Ball
      • Foam Roller
    • Products 2
      • Heat Packs
      • Heel Wedge
      • Ice Packs
      • Kinesio Tape
      • Memory Foam Pillow
    • Products 3
      • Orthotics
      • Spikey Massage Balls
      • Sports Tape
      • Tennis Elbow Brace
      • TheraBand
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • (03) 9001 1301
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Telehealth Physiotherapy
    • Clinical Pilates
    • Dry Needling
    • Rehabilitation
    • Sports Physio
  • Products
    • Products 1
      • ASO Ankle Brace
      • CAM Boot
      • Core Stability Belt
      • Fitness Ball
      • Foam Roller
    • Products 2
      • Heat Packs
      • Heel Wedge
      • Ice Packs
      • Kinesio Tape
      • Memory Foam Pillow
    • Products 3
      • Orthotics
      • Spikey Massage Balls
      • Sports Tape
      • Tennis Elbow Brace
      • TheraBand
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • (03) 9001 1301
School Backpack Guide

School Backpack Guide

  • Posted by Ross De Valle
  • On January 30, 2018

With children about to head back school for the 2018 year it’s time to consider their backpack. Carrying a heavy or poorly fitted backpack can place stress on your child’s spine causing them to lean too far forward and contributing to a ‘rounded upper back posture’. At First Choice Health in Vermont South, our physiotherapists have certainly seen this lead to neck, shoulder and back pain in children.

A backpack is preferred over a traditional bag as it allows children to distribute the load evenly over both shoulders. It is recommended that the loaded backpack should weigh less than 10% of the child’s body weight. A recent study on the incidence of back problems in children aged 12-17 years found that 61.4% of children carried more than 10% of their body weight on a daily basis*.

5 things to look for when choosing a backpack:

  1. Wide shoulder straps that are comfortable and sit well on the shoulder which are adjusted properly to avoid a gap between the backpack and your child.
  2. Waist and chest straps help to transfer some load away from the shoulder and spreads force more evenly across the body.
  3. A padded back support will allow the backpack to sit close to the spine and improve comfort.
  4. The backpack must fit the child. The top of the backpack should not sit higher than the shoulders (allowing your child to look up without restriction), the bottom of the bag should be no lower than the widest part of their hips/pelvis (allowing the correct position of the waist strap) and the front/sternal strap should sit one adult hands width below the child’s collarbone.
  5. Look for a backpack that carries an endorsement from a professional health organization. The Australian Physiotherapy Association endorses ‘Spartan Physiopaks’.

It also helps to encourage your child to be well organized when packing their backpack in order to avoid carrying unnecessary items to and from school. If in doubt or if you have any other postural questions regarding your children, do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable physiotherapists at First Choice Health in Vermont South.

About Ross De Valle

Ross De Valle is a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Partner at First Choice Health physiotherapy clinic in Vermont South.

Blog Archives
  • February 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • March 2020
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
Book an Appointment Online

Bookings at First Choice Health can be made using our online booking facility.

You can choose your practitioner, the date and time of your appointment; and, you’ll receive immediate email confirmation.

Book an Appointment

Plantar Fasciitis

Previous thumb

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

Scroll
Opening Hours
Mon 8am–7pm
Tue 8am–7pm
Wed 8am–8pm
Thu 8am–7pm
Fri 8am–7pm
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed
Find Us
Address

537 Springvale Road
Vermont South VIC 3133

Phone

(03) 9001 1301

Email

enquiries@fchealth.com.au

Navigation
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Common Injuries
  • Products
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Book an Appointment
Physio Blog Posts
  • Neck Pain and Headaches February 15, 2021
  • COVID-19 Update: COVIDSafe Summer December 24, 2020
  • COVID-19 Update: Second Step October 19, 2020
  • COVID-19 Update August 5, 2020

© 2021 First Choice Health Pty Ltd | Vermont South Physiotherapy | Privacy Policy