There are fears that back pain in young children may be caused by the weight of heavy school bags.
Children are literally being weighed down by their school bags. You only need to look at some of the local school children here in Eastbourne to understand the nature of the problem.
There is concern that in many cases, children are carrying much more than the recommended maximum of 10% of their body weight. By increasing the load beyond this point, it is possible for youngsters to develop postural and even spinal problems.
For young children, 10% of their body weight might only be a few kilos – the equivalent of a few books and a lunchbox. Once this is exceeded, there is a very real possibility of back pain in young children. You see it every day, children with their heavy backpacks, leaning forward as they’re walking.
Long term impact of heavy bags
Carrying that sort of weight every day not only causes back pain in young children but can have a profound effect on their posture. Once established, poor posture can be lead to life-long issues. Children can start to experience back pain from the age of 11-15. If it starts then, there is a greater likelihood of it continuing into adulthood. Often, children and their parents don’t take back pain seriously because it comes and goes.
Clinic Director and Doctor of Chiropractic in Easbourne, James Revell’s first experience of Chiropractic was as a teenager with headaches. He’d been putting up with back aches for a long time because he’d been told they were just “normal growing pains for a teenager”. However, when he began to get headaches, his mother took him to see a chiropractor. James didn’t think it would work, but, after a few treatments not only were his headaches gone – but so was the back pain.
That was the beginning of James’ journey to become a Doctor of Chiropractic himself. James and the whole team at Lushington Chiropractic remain committed to helping everyone, of all ages and stages of life. There’s often a simple solution to help relieve pain, improve posture and help prevent future problems too.
Tackling back pain in young children
Here are some remarks from a couple of our teenage guests. If you want to see more testimonials check out: http://www.lushingtonchiropractic.com/test.php
Imagine the weight school children carry every day, carrying all the books they need for the day, and then bringing the books home again for homework. It’s a significant weight. Plus everything else they might need for the day, football/hockey/rugby boots, training shoes, the list is endless…..
By providing advice to children and their parents it is hoped that preventative measures can be taken.
The chiropractors here at Lushington Chiropractic are offering tips to parents on how to minimise the load to prevent potential back pain problems for schoolchildren.
- Always wear backpacks on both shoulders, buy a bag with thick shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly.
- Choose a bag made of lightweight material and has multiple compartments for better weight distribution, and adjust the straps on a backpack to ensure the bag sits above the waist which reduces the pressure on the spine.
- Bags with a waist strap are also recommended.
Other tips are to use school lockers where provided, use lightweight packed lunch containers and, crucially, to carry only what is absolutely needed.
Parents can also look out for tell-tale signs that their child is struggling under the weight of their bags. Warning signs include a change in posture when wearing their backpack and back, neck or shoulder pain.
Here at Lushington Chiropractic we care for all ages, birth to 90+, so be assured we can help you and your children. If you have any concerns, give us a call on 01323 722499 and make an appointment with any of our chiropractors.
Your Eastbourne Chiropractor James Revell
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