Back-to-school is just around the corner, and the NL Chiropractic Association is offering a few tips on how best to carry backpacks.

CEO Dr. Darrell Wade says having heavier items in your backpack positioned directly against your spine helps reduce back pain. It’s also important that the carry-all not exceed 10-15 per cent of your body weight.

Wade says he’s seeing many cases of back pain caused by kids and adults using backpacks the wrong way.

“One of the most consistent ones that we see is slinging a backpack over one shoulder versus putting both straps on and wearing it the proper way,” he told VOCM News.

“The other thing we see frequently is the shoulder straps are really loose so that the backpack kind of sits a little bit lower on the back and tends to kind of drag the shoulders.”