School Bags Are Too Heavy Due To Backbone Problems, Here's Expert Advice

JAKARTA - All school supplies brought by children every day can be the cause of long-term back pain. Therefore, it is important for parents to pay attention to the weight of the bag that the child brings to school.

According to Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, a certified spinal and orthopedic surgeon who practices in New York and New Jersey, too heavy a bag load can cause damage to the child's growing backbone.

"Children should not carry a burden of more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight in bags. A heavier burden can cause muscle tension, body posture changes, and long-term problems in the backbone," said Dr. Okubadejo, quoted from the Healthy page.

"We found that high school age children had chronic back pain just because of the wrong way of carrying bags," he continued.

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health shows the weight of children's bags typically ranges from 10% to 25% of their weight.

The study also adds that bags that are too heavy can cause biomechanical and physiological changes that increase the risk of muscle and bone injuries, fatigue, redness, swelling, and discomfort.

According to Cleveland Clinic, parents can check the safety of a child's bag at home with three simple steps.

1. Weigh the child's weight.

2. Multiply the child's weight at 0.10. The result is the maximum recommended weight for the child's school bag (about 10% of the weight).

3. Weigh the school bag. If the bag weighs more than the recommended figure, try reducing the contents of the bag by removing unnecessary items.

Apart from paying attention to the weight of the bag, Dr. Okubadejo also gave some tips to prevent injury or strain on children.

1. Choose a bag with two broad and soft shoulder straps, as well as the back which also has a cushion.

2. Get used to the child using both shoulder straps so that the weight is divided evenly.

3. Place the heaviest book on the back of the bag, close to the backbone.

4. Check the contents of the bag regularly and remove items that are not needed.

5. If allowed by school, consider wheeled bags so that children do not need to carry a burden on their backs.

In closing, Dr. Okubadejo reminded parents not to underestimate complaints of pain in children.

"The back of the child should not be considered just growth pain," he said.

"If the child complains of discomfort, it is important to immediately follow up and adjust the bag load before permanent damage occurs." he added.

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