School Bag Tips for Parents
With the new school year now well underway we offer parents
tips on how to minimise the weight of their school bags as young children are
being literally weighed down them. There is concern that in many cases,
children are carrying much more than the recommended maximum of 10% of their
body weight, leading to posture and potentially spinal problems.
For young children, 10% of their body weight might only be a
few kilos so if they’re carrying lots of books and things they don’t really
need, this will be too much weight for them. You see it every day, children
with their heavy backpacks, leaning forward as they’re walking.
Carrying that sort of weight every day can certainly affect
children’s posture and set off issues that may develop in the future. Children
can start to experience back pain from the age of 11-15 and if it starts then,
there is a greater likelihood of it continuing into adulthood. Often, they and
their parents don’t take back pain seriously because it comes and goes. Previous
international studies suggest that as many as 80% of children believe their backpacks
are too heavy and almost half of children feel their backpack is causing them
back ache.
Here is a list of tips to prevent potential back problems
for schoolchildren:
·
Always wear backpacks on both shoulders
·
Buy a bag with thick shoulder straps to
distribute the weight evenly
·
Choose a bag made of lightweight material and
has multiple compartments for better weight distribution
·
Adjust the straps on a backpack to ensure the
bag sits above the waist which reduces the pressure on the spine.
·
Bags with a waist strap are also recommended.
·
Use school lockers where provided, use
lightweight packed lunch containers and, crucially, to carry only what is
absolutely needed.
·
Ideally, parents should buy backpacks that are
chiropractor-approved.
Parents can also look out for tell-tale signs that their
child is struggling under the weight of their bags.
Warning signs include a change in posture when wearing their
backpack, tingling and numbness in the arms and hands, and back, neck or
shoulder pain.
Contact us to find out more about booking a consultation for your child
www.optimalchiropractic.co.uk
02920 373967
No comments:
Post a Comment