“Heavy school bags: How to prevent back pain in your child.”

Every day, your child may lug more than five kilograms to and from school in their backpack. Often this can lead to unhealthy spinal symptoms including lower back, shoulder and neck pain.  With the school year now in full swing, we thought some timely tips regarding school backpacks would be useful for parents.

Choose a backpack that:

• Doesn’t extend above the shoulders when seated.
• Has shoulder straps that are broad, well padded and adjustable.
• Has straps attached to the top of the pack at separate points.
• Has a waist strap to keep the load balanced and in place.
• Has separate compartments to allow heavy items to be packed close to the body.
• Is padded where it touches your back and made of firm material to prevent it from sagging backwards.

A well-designed school back pack

Pack Smart

• Try not to pack too many heavy books on the same day.
• Plan ahead—don’t carry lots of equipment at the same time (eg sports gear, musical instruments  or arts material).
• Pack heavier items close to the body and lighter ones further out.

With some simple planning and the correct equipment, your children can safely and efficiently carry their school bags without injury or undue fatigue.