Kind regards,
As a child develops, their spine, muscles and tendons are all changing daily.
Schoolbag weight in schoolchildren is a recurrent issue within the educational and health spheres.
Excessive schoolbag weight can potentially lead to back and neck pain in children, which increases the risk of chronic back pain in adulthood.
Studies have shown that schoolbag weight is greater in secondary school-age children and that if the weight is greater than 10% of their bodyweight, it can have a detrimental effect on their spinal health.
Most Important for your Child’s Backpack are:
Wide, Padded, Adjustable Straps. This provides less drag on the shoulders and distributes weight evenly.
Lightweight Materials. Keep the initial weight of the bag as low as possible.
The Correct Size. Your child’s backpack shouldn’t be wider than their chest and should not hang to below the low back.
Padded Back Panel. This will cushion the spine from pressure points and reduce impact on the bony spinous processes of the spine.
Chest or Waist Straps.For older children with heavier backpacks, this can help shift the load to the pelvis, reducing shoulder and back strain.Sunlounger Back Pain Sorted
Top Tips for Positive Use of Your Backpack:
Limit the Weight. Stick to no more than 10% of body weight and absolutely maximum of 15% in older children. Encourage good habits to do a daily clean out of the backpack and remove any non-essential items for the next day.
Wear Both Straps and Adjust Snugly. Single-strap use causes uneven load and bad posture. Straps should be adjusted so that the backpack never drops to the lower buttock area and remains nearer the waist.
Use Lockers When Available. Try to encourage your child to store heavier items at school to reduce the amount that is needed to be carried daily.
Pack Smart. Heavier items go towards the centre and lower part of the backpack to keep the load more even.
Should your child still come home complaining of back, shoulder or neck pain, don’t despair!
As Osteopaths, we can really help with growing pains, growth spurts, the impact of school sports and lots of studying as well as any problems that heavy backpacks may cause. Just call us and we will do our best to help!
Please Call: 02089776396 or
Email: info@osteopathuk.co.uk
If you have aches and pains, don’t wait, just call the clinic and come in and we will be able to diagnose the problem.
You can email info@osteopathuk.co.uk or call 02089776396
| Click the link for our website: http://www.osteopathuk.co.uk/ |
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for any reason, we are here to help and welcome any feedback. Click here for more information.
