Blog Layout

How To Fit a Backpack

Balanced • Aug 02, 2017

Back to school is right around the corner, which means it’s time to break out the shopping lists and load the carts up with pens, folders, notebooks, crayons, glue sticks and – of course – the backpack. To help your little (or not so little!) one carry that load, it’s important to have the right size pack. We’re here to help!

 

 

The first consideration for a good fit will be the the torso sizing. To measure the torso, start from the base of their neck and bring the tape to their hip bones:

  • From a standing position, have your child tilt their head forward and look down. At the base of the neck there will be a big bump (totally normal, called C7). Measure vertically from there to the top of their hip bones. Have them put their hands on their hips and draw an imaginary line across their back – from thumb to thumb. This distance from this line to that C7 bump is your measurement. You want to find a back pack with that length. A few extra inches longer to accommodate growth is fine.

The second consideration will be the multitude of features. You’ll want to be sure whichever backpack you choose has the following elements:

  • Adjustable straps
  • Hip belt
  • Chest strap
  • If your child will carry any electronic devices, you may also want to examine options that include a padded laptop compartment with a waterproof feature

Once you’ve identified the appropriate features, and measured your child’s torso, you’re ready for the fitting to make your final selection. Have your child put on the back pack, and follow these steps:

  • Adjust the waist belt – it should sit up on top of the hip bones, and shouldn’t be so tight that it pinches or so loose that it slides down onto their hips.
  • Adjust the chest strap – it should feel snug, but not so tight that it makes it hard to breathe.  When your child is wearing the full back pack (with books in it), they should not feel any pinching in their low back, or burning between the shoulder blades. They also shouldn’t feel straps digging into them.  If they feel any of those things, you need to keep making small adjustments.
  • Check to be sure your child is able to carry the pack standing up right, without it pulling them backward or forcing them to lean forward.

Be sure to steer clear of these ‘don’ts’:

  • Don’t – drag the bag on the ground
  • Don’t – wear only one strap
  • Don’t – use the chest strap but not the hip belt
  • Don’t – choose a messenger bag
  • Don’t- put more than 20% of the child’s weight in the back pack.

So, if you’ve selected a backpack that fits the torso, has all of the right features, and has been adjusted to a good, comfortable fit, you’re ready to go. DO have a fun and safe return to school!

20 Jan, 2022
Choose trusted chiropractic care in Charlottesville with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Our chiropractors are dedicated to your well-being and accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.
15 Jul, 2021
A lot of the aches and pains that we experience in daily life can be solved with Chiropractic care. If […]
31 May, 2021
You may have some preconceived ideas about Chiropractic Care that have been built up over the years. We’re here to […]
15 Apr, 2021
Are you working from home lately? You are not alone. Workstation ergonomics has become a hot topic over the past […]
02 Mar, 2021
Deadlifts Deadlifts have long been a staple in strength training. It is a very complex movement that requires movement throughout […]
01 Jan, 2021
Exercise Series: Squats The first in our exercise series covers one of the most fundamental lifts: The squat. This is […]
By Balanced 31 Dec, 2020
The Balanced Patient Difference We often ask ourselves what makes us different from the other clinics in the area and […]
By Balanced 01 Dec, 2020
When an injury begins to develop, the amount of options to enter the healthcare system can be daunting. It’s almost […]
By Balanced 31 Jul, 2020
Top 10 Tips for Migraines! Manual Therapy Spinal manipulation is a useful tool in migraine prophylaxis. One study demonstrated a […]
By Balanced 26 May, 2020
How to Safely Build your Running Volume and Intensity While things are slowly opening back up around here after a […]
More Posts
Share by: