Doctors advise lightening the load for children to avoid back injuries.
KGUN9's Carlos Herrera reports that experts say backpacks should be no heavier than 15 percent of a child's weight.
Local chiropractors say they see an increase in kids visiting their offices when school starts w/ injuries associated w/ backpacks. @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/cnhwMa1X6f
— Carlos Herrera (@KGUNCarlos) August 1, 2017
Backpacks should also have compression straps on the sides or bottom to stabilize contents.
Backpacks with wheels aren't necessarily better because although they take the strain off the back, they increase the chance of injuring shoulders.
Your best bet may be a backpack with an inflatable diaphragm that supports the contour of the lower back and have extra padding to distribute weight evenly among the shoulders.
