You may not realize it, but your kids schoolbag could be causing the student in your household health risks and back pain that can cause many health conditions.
Make sure your child’s schoolbag weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. The schoolbag will cause your child to begin bending forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.
A schoolbag with individualised compartments will help you position the contents most effectively and ensure that your child’s sandwich isn’t flattened by a heavy textbook.
Tell your child to use both shoulder straps, not just one. A schoolbag slung over one shoulder disproportionately shifts all of the weight to one side, and can cause not only neck and muscle spasms, but also low back pain.
Padded shoulder straps are very important. Not only will they be more comfortable than non-padded straps, but they will also help prevent the straps from digging into your child’s shoulders.
The shoulder straps should be adjustable, so the schoolbag can be fitted to your child’s body. Shoulder straps that are too loose can cause the schoolbag to dangle uncomfortably, and cause misalignment and pain.
If the schoolbag is still too heavy, talk with your child’s teacher. It might be possible to leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter books.
To learn more about how you and your family can benefit from chiropractic care, schedule an appointment with Dr.Ben at our office in Ballincollig.
