Are schoolbags responsible for children's neck pain?

Donya Betancourt Pediatrician drdonya@hotmail.com

It's alarming when you see children walking home from school, burdened down with massive school bags. A comprehensive study has shown that approximately 25 percent of school-aged children suffer from back and/or neck pain at any one time. It is believed to be due to a combination of factors such as poor posture, everyday load carrying and the use of computers.

Many parents are worried about their child's posture and back pain. Schoolchildren are at risk of developing spinal problems from poorly designed and heavily packed school bags. As the spine is growing and developing it is vitally important to address spinal health issues. We want to prevent spinal stress and dysfunction that causes pain, which may affect study and participation in sport and recreation, and to develop good techniques for spinal health that will carry through into adulthood.

Because of the growing need to pay attention to this problem, parents and school communities should take positive action to promote spinal health.

There is a strong possibility the children's school bags are too heavy. One of the worsening factors is the carrying of the bag over one shoulder, currently a popular fashion among school children. If the bag is too heavy it may lead to spinal contortion, muscle imbalance and incorrect posture as the child leans toward the opposite side to compensate. Spinal contortion makes it seem as if one shoulder is higher than the other. Too heavy a bag or incorrect carrying may also lead to headaches, neck ache and backache, as well as strained ligaments in the back.

Parents play a vital role in nurturing their child's health. So how can we help our child pick the right school bag? Here are a few tips:

Backpacks with padded straps worn on both shoulders are the best way to carry loads. it should be comfortable and the straps should be the appropriate length for the height of the child so the load is carried correctly and safely.

The weight of a child's school bag should not exceed 10 per cent of his or her body weight. Children from grades one to three should not carry bags heavier than 6 kilograms. Children of 10 years or older may carry up to 8 kilograms.

A fastened waist strap can help anchor the load and keep the load at waist height.

A backpack should be made of firm material that prevents sag and keeps the load close to the spine. It should be adjustable to allow correct fitting to the person's back.

The backpack is the correct size when your child sits down with it on and it does not extend higher than the shoulders. Remember to buy a big backpack to "grow" into.

Once you have selected the right backpack for your child the next step is to make sure that all the items in the bag are essential, to avoid carrying excess weight. This means that you must check their timetable for each day to ensure they are only carrying what they need. The bag should be carried over both shoulders and adjusted so that it is close to the back. Loads are easier to carry when held closer to the body.

Heavy items, such as large books and computers, should be packed closest to the back to reduce stress on the spine and its supporting muscles.

The last thing to pay attention to is lifting the backpack. Backpacks should be lifted correctly from the ground to prevent lifting injuries. To lift the pack correctly, face the pack, bend at the knees and use both hands to lift the pack, pushing up with the legs. Apply one shoulder strap and then the other.

For children, the image of walking with a backpack is a sign of growing up. Let's make sure that they use their packs properly to avoid any long-lasting spinal damage.