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Lighten Up!
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Backpacks are an everyday piece of equipment for
students. The weight you carry on your back should never exceed
12% of your body weight.
Students typically carry 25-35% of their body weight in their backpacks. This
becomes a very important health issue because your bones and spine are still
growing and adding
too much weight puts stress on your body and can cause permanent
damage. |
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Let's find out about your
skeleton: 
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It's first job is to hold you
together
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It provides a framework for your body
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It protects soft organs and tissues
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Your spine protects the spinal cord, the main
pathway through which
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the brain sends out messages telling
the body what to do
How does carrying a heavy load affect
your body?
- It causes stress on the growing spinal column and
surrounding muscles.
- It can displace the spine so the bones go out of
place and can tilt the spine.
- It can alter your gait-how you walk.
- Too much stress can cause sprains and strains
stretching the ligaments and tendons.
Carrying a backpack that weighs more than 12% of your body weight can
cause the following symptoms:
- muscle soreness
- numbness-due to pressure on nerves
- back and neck pain
- shoulder pain
- headaches
- may contribute to scoliosis, a painful curving of the spine.
The weight of your backpack isn’t the only issue!!!
HOW you carry your back pack is also important.
Tips on Wearing a Backpack:
- Load your backpack with the heaviest items next to your back
- Distribute the weight of the load evenly across your back
- Wear both shoulder straps and tighten straps so the backpack fits
snug to your upper back
- Carry the backpack centered HIGH on your back
- The bottom of your backpack should rest in the curve of your
lower back
- Never sling the backpack onto one shoulder
- When lifting your backpack, bend at the knees and
lift.
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