Back and neck pain can be a common problem. You can strain back muscles by lifting too much weight or just by moving the wrong way. For pain that won't go away, or gets worse instead of better, St. John Health offers specialists who can help including physical therapists, massage therapists, physicians and pain management experts.
A Heavy Burden
More than half of children who use a backpack for school carry loads that are more than 15 percent of their body weight, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. Fifteen percent of body weight is considered the maximum safe weight for children to carry in a pack. If your child carries a heavy pack, discuss which items might be left at home or school to lighten the load.
