You might think back pain is something only adults need to worry about, but the number of books children have to lug around with them can also lead to problems.
To avoid this, children should follow one key rule: Keep your heavy school supplies close to your back in your schoolbag. Anything that’s lighter can go in the front part of your bag.
Otherwise, you run the risk of developing an inward bump at the base of your spine, warns Professor Ralf Stuecker, Chief Physician of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Altona Children’s Hospital in Hamburg.
Stuecker also recommends padded shoulder straps so that the combination of schoolbooks, pencil case and lunchbox don’t have too heavy an effect on the shoulders. Ideally, these will be at least 4 cm wide and worn at the same height on both sides.
You can also avoid strain on the lower back by wearing the bag higher up. As a rule of thumb, no schoolbag should weigh more than 10 to 15 per cent of the child’s own bodyweight. – dpa
