School bags – What’s best for back to school?

It’s that time of the year again when I see school children walk past the clinic and I cringe at the way they are wearing their school bags.

The spine is designed for specific areas to take the load, and during this period of growth and development it’s important to help nurture the body even when kids seem hell bent on doing the opposite.

A systematic review found that one-third of adolescents report musculoskeletal pain monthly or more; and, that there’s a sharp rise in prevalence from childhood to adolescence.

In addition, a study by the Chiropractic Association found that 50 per cent of parents thought their children had good posture, when in fact more than 80 per cent of the children had bad posture.

I commonly see scenarios where children are carrying bags with a single shoulder, causing a twist in the spine, or carrying all of the weight on their shoulders (where the bag hangs down near the buttock), leading to scoliosis; rounding of the thoracic spine and shoulders and a forward head carriage. These are all negatives when it comes to posture.

Sound familiar? Here are some pointers to help with posture.

1. Ensure the bag fits – make sure that it’s no wider than the child’s chest and no longer than their back.

2. Try to always pick the smallest one for their needs.

3. Use the straps! Adjust the (hopefully padded) shoulder straps, to the height of your child, so it sits above their bottom. Ideally it will also have straps around the waist and the chest to help distribute the weight evenly.

4. When packing the bag, ensure heavier things are put in the pocket closest to their back.

5. Zip it shut.

6. Weigh the bag and watch them put it on; 10 to 15 per cent of your child’s body weight should be considered the absolute max to be carried in a bag.

If you’re concerned about your child’s school bag, or their posture, make an appointment with one of our Osteopaths now.

Dr Christine Fraser is an osteopath at the Health Creation Centre in Ocean Grove.