Schoolbags and Back Injuries
It’s that time of year again: the threat of heavy schoolbags weighing down your little one is rearing its ugly head. The rise of handheld technology has not stemmed the need for kids to carry bulging backpacks full of heavy textbooks, and the risk of back pain is real and serious.
The Risks
Heavy schoolbags can result in musculoskeletal pain and in some extreme cases, persistent back pain. The damage comes in a variety of forms. Some kids might bend forwards or arch their hips, causing compression of the spine and leading to shoulder, neck and back pain. Those who carry their school bag over just one shoulder can cause strain and an imbalance in their posture, and those carrying bags with narrow straps risk circulatory problems and nerve damage. Girls and younger children are especially at risk due to their smaller size.
Ideal Backpack Use
Current research states a schoolbag should be no more than 10% of a child’s body weight. Doctors and physiotherapists also recommend:
- Wearing the bag using both shoulder straps to evenly distribute the weight.
- Standing upright to avoid hunching or rounding of the back.
- Adjusting straps so that the bag is resting tightly against the middle of the back, not sagging down to the posterior.
- Placing heavier items, such as text books, at the centre of the back.
- Consider lightening the load if your child struggles to pick the bag up.
Pick The Right Bag
You can do your part to help your child avoid back pain by helping them to choose a sensible schoolbag. Some simple guidelines to follow are:
- Pick a lightweight bag.
- Pick a bag with two wide, padded shoulder straps.
- Pick a bag with an extra waist belt or hip pads to compensate for those really heavy loads.
- Choose a bag with multiple compartments, so that weight can be distributed throughout.
- Consider a bag with a padded back, to increase comfort and avoid being poked through the material.
More than 70% of schoolchildren carry more than the recommended weight; keep your child safe this school year by investing in a practical bag and speaking to them about how to avoid back problems.
Our physiotherapist, Fawzi Charaan explains in a video (in French), how to best choose a schoolbag and how to adjust it to avoid any injury. See the video here!
Questions about schoolbags and back injuries? Schedule an appointment with our team of physiotherapists.
Physio Proactive, 2018.