Avoid back to school back pain
According to the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), heavy loads that are carried incorrectly result in abnormal adjustments to children’s posture, as they struggle to cope with the uneven weight distribution of the bag.
Where over time these posture adjustments can result in back, neck and should pain, Australian physiotherapists continue to express concern about school children carrying heavy loads to and from school every day.
One Australian study of over 1,200 school children aged 12 to 18 discovered that children within this age group will typically carry over 5 kilograms in a backpack each day. This puts the child’s neck and back health at risk, particularly when the backpack is being carried the wrong way. The APA suggests that children should never carry more than 10% of their own body weight, particularly for long periods of time.
Here are a few tips for choosing the right backpack and carrying it correctly:
- When it comes to choosing the right bag, ensure that the backpack fits your child’s body comfortably.
- Broad, well-padded shoulder straps that can be adjusted as well as a waist strap to keep the backpack in place will help to ensure your child is getting the proper support when carting their books to and from school.
- Always try to keep the load as light as possible, and pack the heaviest items closest to your child’s body.
- When the backpack has been packed, ensure it does not fall or sag backwards.
- Always use both straps when carrying your backpack. Do not carry it over one shoulder at a time.
- Avoid carrying the backpack for lengthy periods of time.
References:
http://www.premierhealthnet.com/phndefault.aspx?id=80936
http://newsroom.aaos.org/media-resources/news/get-back-to-the-basics-of-backpack-safety.htm
