Dr. Orly Avitzur a board-certified neurologist and medical adviser of Consumers Reports asserted that children can suffer low-back pain because of carrying heavy school backpack.
“A heavy backpack is a strong contributor to low-back pain in children.
Avitzur added that carrying a heavy kids backpack for long periods of time, carrying it on one shoulder instead of two, and climbing stairs while lugging a heavy load can exacerbate the problem. Further, little girls and shorter children are more vulnerable on acquiring back pain due to their smaller stature.
Listed here are six backpack tips to help straighten out your little ones before they end up in pain.
1. Despite the ever-growing popularity of single strap backpacks, a double-strapped backpack will actually promote better spinal alignment through a more symmetrical distribution of weight.
2. The more padding on the straps the better, it will help on relieving the pressure on the shoulders and back. Additional straps are a good idea as well; chest and hip belts help transfer some of the weight from the back making carrying around the load more of a group effort if you will.
3. As far as the actual design of the school backpack goes, consider a pack with multiple compartments
4. When wearing the backpack, it should rest in the middle and lower part of the back where the muscles are strongest. When worn too low, the body will compensate by leaning forward and taking on an improper posture, which in turn leave muscles fatigued and more vulnerable to injuries.
5. In order to prevent risk of injury, the weight of a backpack’s contents should not exceed 10 -15% of the wearer’s body weight. A good way to cut down on the load might be to only take supplies that are necessary. That means before each trip, either home or to school, checking and taking out what is not needed.
6. When organizing items in the school bags try to keep heavier books and items closer to the back, this will ensure the back muscles aren’t working harder than they need to. If feasible, have two copies of a heavier text (one for school, one for home), so your child don’t have to carry so much.
