Believe it or not, there is a proper way of using a backpack and failing to do so can lead to chronic pain as well as bad posture.
Whether you’re a student or a working professional, the chances are you own a backpack to help you carry your things which, if worn correctly, is a great way of transporting your belongings comfortably. If you wear it incorrectly, which many of us are guilty of, you may be putting yourself at risk of developing a herniated disk and suffering from chronic pain that can easily be avoided.
Carrying your backpack the right way will help prevent back pain, neck pain, bad posture and an intervertebral disk compression. The first thing is to always make sure to buy the right size backpack, which must be relative to your body size and length of your torso. Try on a few different ones and purchase the one that feels the most comfortable. Remember that the top of the bag should be just below your shoulder level and the bottom of the pack should be right around your waist level. Allowing your backpack to hang too low on your back is wrong and your body will feel like it is being dragged down. These rules apply to both children and adults.
The second thing to remember is not to overload your backpack because carrying one that is too heavy will affect your spine negatively and harm your back. It can be tempting to put in as many items as you can fit but that’s the wrong way to go about it and just because you can fit a bunch of things into your pack doesn’t mean you should be carrying around all that weight.
There’s also a proper way of picking up your bag, which is important because doing it incorrectly will cause you to twist your spine and lead to back pain. Use both hands and lift it while you’re facing your backpack as opposed to grabbing it from your side and having to twist your body.
There is a reason backpacks come with two straps; both are meant to be used in order to distribute the weight of the contents evenly across both shoulders. This will put a lot less strain on your body and you won’t find yourself in pain at the end of the day. You should never wear your backpack on one shoulder because the weight will be pulled to one side of your body, which will lead to chronic pain. Instead, use both straps at all times when carrying your backpack to keep the weight centred.
MacDonald’s Prescription #3 is a medical supply store in Vancouver that offers pain-free solutions in a variety of items. If you’re in the Vancouver area, be sure to visit today!