Tips on Avoiding Back Problems In Child

Tips for Keeping Young Backs Healthy

A straining of the back muscle, as might result from either use or abuse of the back,
causes the majority of the back problems that are seen by family physicians. Parents
can help to prevent such straining by educating their children how to safely use
backpacks.
Children need to be cautioned against overloading their backpacks. Do not let them
carry unnecessary books. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons warns
that limiting the weight of a backpack provides the best way for preventing back
injuries. Sometimes, when a needed textbook is especially heavy, a parent can
contact the school authorities to request a second book. This frees the student from
having to carry a heavy book in his or her backpack.
Once a young student has determined which books need to be placed in the
backpack, then the parent needs to guide that student with the process of packing the
books into the backpack. Encourage the student to carry the heaviest books closest
to the body. Lighter books and other school supplies should go in a space away from
the body. By packing a backpack in this manner, a student decreases the strain on
his or her neck and shoulders.
The type of backpack that a student uses can also help to reduce the chances that
the student will have back problems. Check with the school to see if it allows the
students to use backpacks with wheels. If the student needs to carry the backpack,
then it should have padded straps. Wide shoulder straps provide an added
protection against back strain. Parents should also look for a backpack with multiple
compartments. A pack with many compartments allows the student to better distribute
the weight that he or she has to carry.
Parents enjoy seeing their children off to school. They like to picture the wonderful
future their child will enjoy from the education that he or she is receiving. A weighty or
unsafe backpack, however, could cause a child to develop back problems that would
cause a lifetime of problems. Parents need to keep that fact in mind as they help their
young student prepare for the starting bell.

by: Sue Chehrenegar