You may not realize it, but by letting your child carry a heavy backpack every day, you are subjecting him to serious health risks. Studies show that the cause for the majority of kids who develop irreversible back deformities can be traced back to the weight of their school bags.
According to medical experts, a child may suffer from permanent back damage is he is carrying more than 15 percent of his body weight on his shoulders. Childhood is a crucial period for bone growth because a child's skeletal system is still developing; making him more susceptible to bone deformities if left neglected.
Unfortunately, most kids nowadays carry an overloaded backpack which is heavier than what they can actually manage. Most schools nowadays don't have adequate space for lockers, forcing children to carry everything with them that's why it is not surprising that the number of schoolchildren who experience back problems is increasing.
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| Photo from Pixabay |
Risks of carrying heavy school bags
A concerned citizen turned to social media to raise awareness against other people who are letting their kids carry heavy backpacks to school every day. Facebook user Zahir Ali posted graphic images of his nephew who suffered an irreversible spine condition for regularly carrying an overloaded bag."This is an eye-opener for parents whose children attend primary school. The photos are images of my nephew who attended primary school and due to his heavy book bag, he started walking with a bend and complained of back pain. On visiting the doctor, he had to undergo major surgery to rectify the problem. I plead with you don't allow your child to lift a heavy school bag on his/her back."
What's worse than simple back pain is permanent spine damage which can affect a child in his adult years. According to experts, studies reveal that when you are older, you are four times more likely to endure back pains if you have already experienced back pains as a child.
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| Photo from Pixabay |
How to prevent back pains
In order to prevent this from happening to your child, experts warned that parents should always keep an eye on their children's backpacks. It is also highly advisable to let your child use a medium-sized backpack with wide and padded straps to spread out the load evenly.As much as possible, never let your child wear a drawstring bag or those with one strap worn over one shoulder because it can cause too much strain and may also lead to deformities. Wearing one-sided bags can cause harm as much as wearing a heavy backpack can.
So the next time you take your child to school, it will always pay to weigh in the importance of letting him carry the right bag. It seems like a small thing to consider but years later, your child will thank you for it. Share this to spread awareness to others!
SOURCES: Daily Mail | Practo | NCBI