
07/24/2025
Wondering About Backpack Safety? Your Chiropractor Has the Answers
If you wondered about the cumulative effect wearing backpacks has on children's’ bodies, your instincts are correct. Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly may cause problems. Between 1999 and 2000, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that more than 5,400 ER visits were related to injuries caused by backpacks.
The longer a child carries the extra weight he or she may have pain, muscle stiffness, and problems with flexibility and range of motion. Backpack wearing can significantly increase the child’s potential for injury. Chiropractors often see symptoms such as backache, sore or stiff neck, sore shoulders, and headaches.
Backpack Safety Facts:
It’s common to see children carrying backpacks equaling as much as 25% of their body weight. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recommends a backpack weigh no more than 5% to 10% of a child’s weight. Show your child how to put the largest and heaviest items in first, usually in the largest pocket of the backpack.
Tips for Selecting the Right Backpack:
1. Choose an appropriate size: Chiropractors recommend the backpack not be wider than your child’s torso. It also shouldn’t hang more than 4 inches below the waist.
2. Inspect for a padded back to protect against contents inside from poking into your child’s body.
3. Make sure it has multiple compartments so that the weight is distributed effectively.