Heavy School Bags and Posture
Those heavy school bags!
Read on to learn about some of the health risks that heavy backpacks place on children’s spines and for helpful tips on how to ‘lighten the load’. There is a lot to pack into school bags these days, such as text books for every subject, note pads, lunch, a change of clothes and often a laptop or tablet device.
Heavy books and bags can place a heavy load on a child’s back and put at risk the development of a strong and healthy spine.
All that pressure, day in and day out, may cause postural issues that may manifest as a ‘health crisis’ later in life.
Follow this general rule as a guide. The maximum weight of a bag should be equivalent to 10% of the student’s body weight. For an average student weighing 50kg the school bag should weigh in at 4-5kg tops.
HEALTH IMPACTS DUE TO OVERWEIGHT BAGS
There are both immediate impacts and longer term health consequences associated with heavy school bags.
- lifting heavy bags places strain on the back and spine
- wearing a bag strap over only one shoulder can create postural inbalances
- the longer the child carries the heavy load, the more severe the damage may be in later life
- back pain and tight muscles can result from repetitive strain injury
- uneven or ‘drop shoulder’ posture can develop
- many of these postural issues are preventable. It’s later in life that back pain, headaches and scoliosis can set in as a result of years of poor posture (among many other factors).
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Chiropractors’ Association of Australia recommends the following:
- maximum bag weight should not exceed 10% of a child’s weight when packed
- make sure the bag is appropriately sized to the individual – no wider than the student’s chest
- prioritise comfort and fit over style, trends and colour
- look for broad, padded shoulders and waist straps to more evenly distribute weight
- pack the heaviest items in first, and closest to the spine
- don’t over load the bags, or consider leaving items at school on different days of the week
The back pack should be positioned high on the back
As a chiropractor, many of the health problems I adjust for are preventable. Young bodies have a remarkable ability to heal and bounce back from injury. Despite this, postural misalignments caused by heavy bags may only get worse if left untreated.
Approximately 200,000 Australians visit their local Doctor of Chiropractic each week.
STAND UP FOR BETTER POSTURE!
To book a chiropractic consultation at New World Chiro please phone or email us today.
Dr. Rosemarie Jabbour (Chiropractor) is the owner and chiropractor at New World Chiro, Parramatta. Rosemarie is an experienced and highly professional healthcare practitioner with over 25+ years experience in caring for the local community. Rosemarie was also one of the chiropractors for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games. With a keen interest in spinal health, neuroscience and sports fitness, Rosemarie is a natural health champion and advocate.
In addition to running New World Chiro, Rosemarie runs corporate health and wellness training programs, chiropractic assistant training, and networks within a variety of local business networks.
Qualifications
- B.Sc.(Biol.Sc.)
- B.App Sc (Clin.Sc)
- B.C.Sc.
- Cert CCSP (U.S.A).ICSSD
- The International Chiropractic Sports Science Diploma 1997
- Graduate Certificate in Sports Chiropractic in 1998
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