Back pain from satchels

22.07.2011

Every year before the beginning of the new school year, parents of first graders are faced with the same questions: What is the right schoolbag for my child? What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing? But even more important than an ergonomic back surface, low weight and padded straps is the right way to handle your luggage in everyday life. This is the only way to avoid muscle tensions, postural damage and, in the long term, even pathological, very painful changes in the spine with corresponding chronic back pain.

„Responsible parents therefore pack their bags together with their offspring every evening and limit themselves to notebooks and books that are really needed the next day,“ advises Dr. Frank John from the orthonet-NRW - a consortium of established orthopedists in North Rhine-Westphalia. „The lighter the knapsack, the less it strains the spine. Rule of thumb: Children should never carry more than ten percent of their body weight on their backs because bones and connective tissue are still growing and not having the stability of an adult spine.“ Toys or other redundant ballast therefore remains best at home. Even with lunch boxes and drinking bottles you can save weight. Special attention is also paid to the distribution of the loads. All heaviness belongs to the back, lighter items in the front pocket area. In addition, parents should ensure that the offspring not only carry his schoolbag over one shoulder and regularly check the length of the risers. The top of the satchel at best forms a line with the shoulder height. Anyone who pays attention to such supposed little things in everyday life and practices these behaviors with the little ones again and again, can effectively prevent many painful complaints in advanced age.
(Pm)

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Picture credits: Ingrid Ruthe