(HealthDay News) -- Backpacks can cause back pain and injury if they are too heavy or don't offer enough support.
Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing and wearing a backpack, courtesy of the National Safety Council:
- Always wear both straps, so that the weight is distributed across both shoulders and evenly across the back.
- A backpack should always be centered across the middle of the back.
- Try not to overload the backpack. Keep it from getting too heavy.
- Place the heaviest items closest to the back.
- When lifting the backpack, bend at the knees and lift with your legs.
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