Back to School!

16 Jan Back to School!

It’s almost the end of January which means back to school! Whilst this can be a relief for most parents it is always stressful trying to ensure you child has the right backpack and shoes to help prevent any injury or pain.  

School bags often are larger than the smaller primary school children, and if not packed and fitted properly, can lead to back pain in primary children. Some tips are:   

• The bag should sit in the middle to upper back, tighten straps accordingly  
• Do not overpack! Lunch boxes often have handles now, so carry those rather than put in the bag if too heavy  
• If your child is complaining it is too heavy, it might be, check what can be removed.   

For the older secondary aged students, ensure   

• Heavy textbooks are kept in lockers as able or downloaded onto the computer  
• As with younger children the bag should sit in the middle to upper back (even if it does not look cool!)  
• Make sure your child has both straps on their shoulder! This reduces stress through one side.   
• Backpacks are always better then sports bags/shoulder bags.  

Often the start of school also can mean new shoes! Some tips/things to check before the start of the school year include:  

• Check the soles of the shoes for wear and tear, if there is not much grip on the bottom, they will need new shoes. If the shoes still look ok to wear make a note to check them again before the start of term 2.  
• Ensure your child’s shoe fits properly, have them put their shoe on and pinch the end near the big toe, there should be a small amount of room. If it is too tight, it might be time for new shoes!  
• Ensure shoes contain arch support! (Unfortunately, sometimes the cool shoes have no support, you can either find a pair that look similar or look at putting some orthotics in them).  
• If your child wears school shoes to school ensure they also have runners for P.E class, the above principals also apply for runners!  

Going back to school is an exciting time of the year and here at Western Paediatrics we wish all the students well as they start the new school year. If you have any questions about the above information please do not hesitate to contact our physiotherapists.