Back-to-School, Back to Pain?

How Backpacks, New Routines, and Stress Affect Your Spine

By Dr. Andrew Kakishita | Kinetic Chiropractic – Lehi, UT

New school year, new routines…new aches? As families in Lehi gear up for back-to-school season, it’s not just kids adjusting to early mornings and class schedules. Their bodies are adjusting too—and sometimes not in the best ways.

Backpack Strain

Overloaded or poorly worn backpacks are one of the most common causes of spine and shoulder strain in school-aged kids. A general rule? Backpacks should weigh no more than 10-15% of your child’s body weight, with wide straps snug over both shoulders—not dangling from one side.

Stress, Schedules, and Sleep

Even emotional and mental stressors of school can play a role. Stress affects posture, muscle tone, and breathing, often leading to compensatory tension in the neck and back. Add poor sleep from early wake-ups, and you’ve got a recipe for dysfunction.

How Chiropractic—and Shockwave Therapy—Can Help

Gentle chiropractic adjustments can relieve pressure on joints and nervous tissue, restore movement, and reduce muscle guarding. For chronic cases—like ongoing shoulder pain from heavy bags or tendon irritation in active kids—Shockwave Therapy may help break up scar tissue and stimulate healing without injections or downtime.

When to Get Checked

Back pain isn’t a “normal” part of growing up. If your child is frequently sore, slouching more, or starts avoiding activities, let’s take a closer look.

Looking for help with back-to-school pain?

Book your visit with a chiropractor in Lehi who gets it. We’re here to help your family stay healthy and active—without relying on meds or endless visits.