8 tips to avoid back problems in children

Backpack too heavy, on one shoulder or poorly adjusted, as the start of the new school year approaches, health specialists call for watching for these signs in order to prevent children from developing back problems.

“A backpack worn on one shoulder can lead to posture deviation. If the bag is too heavy, the body will tend to lean forward to compensate, causing tension in the shoulders and neck,” said Dr. Marie-Helene Boivin, chiropractor and president of the Association des chiropraticiens du Québec ( ACQ), Thursday via press release.

In order to prevent young schoolgirls from developing pain or even scoliosis, lordosis, or kyphosis, the ACQ has identified the main signs that can alert parents to a problem with the use of their child's backpack:

He leans forward when he carries the bag

He must lift one shoulder to prevent the strap from slipping

He must support his bag with one hand under the bottom to relieve the pressure on his shoulders,

He has red marks on his shoulders when he removes the bag

According to the clinical experience of Dr. Boivin, chiropractor, “prolonged wearing of an ill-fitting backpack can cause pain and posture deviations”.

SEVERAL TIPS CAN BE USED TO PREVENT PAIN AND LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON THE BACKPACK:

• Help the child to properly adjust the length of the shoulder straps.
• Encourage the student to wear the two straps of the backpack, to attach the strap to the chest and the abdominal belt.
• Evenly distribute the load of the contents of the bag by placing heavier objects close to the child's body.
• Check the contents of the bag frequently to ensure the student is carrying only essentials.
• Suggest that the child fill the water bottle at school and partially empty it before leaving.
• Use materials from previous years to create a second pencil box to be left at home.
• Carry the lunch box or snack bag by hand rather than in the backpack if possible.
• Weigh the bag to check if it does not exceed the recommendation of 10% of the elementary student's weight.