Tips So That Your Child’s Back Doesn’t Hurt From The Backpack
Backpacks are for relieve pain, not creating it. However, When used incorrectly, they can cause your child to adopt postures that can lead to spinal problems. Do not miss these tips so that your child does not have back pain due to the backpack.
If you take into account that your child will carry a backpack for many years, it is important that you know how to choose the correct one to avoid back problems. Think that these problems will not only affect you now, they can also determine many aspects of your health in the future.
Look at your child’s spine
A heavy backpack can cause children to shift their vertebral position to accommodate the load. This can result in back pain, and in the worst case, the possibility of temporarily compressed discs and posture problems.
Lastly, if your child is young and has experienced back pain, talk to his doctor about exercises he can do to strengthen his upper back. By having a suitable backpack and using it correctly , your child will avoid back pain and future head, neck and spine problems.
Decrease the load on the backpack to avoid back pain
Most children carry between 10% and 22% of their body weight in their backpacks. Research shows that heavy loads can cause compressed discs in the spine. As the weight of the backpack increases, so does the degree of compression of the disc.
Experts recommend that the load in a backpack be no more than 10 percent of the child’s weight. Help your child control the amount of heavy items they carry in their backpack. Encourage him to use his locker or leave books that is not going to occupy at school.
Organize the backpack correctly
A good strategy is to put the heaviest objects inside close to your back. . Take little things like calculators, pens, and loose paper outside. Also, the backpacks come with a number of features to make it easier to carry heavy loads. Carrying heavy items in a backpack on wheels is a real relief. Both you and your child will appreciate it, even though it may cost a little extra.
Buy a backpack with padded straps
Many children and moms complain of neck and shoulder pain when they carry a heavy backpack. Padded shoulder straps may be what you are looking for. Padded shoulder straps are generally wider than the more basic type and can help balance weight distribution . This, along with the cushioning provided by the padding, can help prevent pinching of the trapezius muscle, which is very common with simple straps.
Use both straps
Whether it is about fashion or comfort for your child, Putting the backpack on one shoulder will only bring about bad posture habits . It can also cause pain on the side of the body that has to bear the weight of the entire package. Let your child know that it is a better idea to carry the backpack with both shoulders. In this way, the weight is balanced much better.
Ask your child if he has back pain
Encourage your child to inform you about his aches and pains. Most of the time, the pain will be attributable to the backpack. But there is a possibility that back pain is a symptom of an underlying condition or disease.
Back pain during childhood increases the risk of back pain during adulthood. If you adjust the weight of the backpack and your child manages the load and distribution of it, and still does not feel relief from his back pain, consult a pediatrician .
Also, explain to your child that ignoring back or shoulder pain could lead to injury. Tell him to let you know right away if he experiences any discomfort or if his back hurts. As soon as you experience any kind of discomfort, it will be necessary to take you to the doctor as soon as possible to rule out that an injury has been done due to the weight of the backpack.
