The Issue of Heavy School Bags

30 Jun The Issue of Heavy School Bags

By now your child has been at school for 2 terms and may have developed lower back, neck and shoulder pain. This could be due to a heavy school bag as well as sitting slouched at a desk for hours. You will need to check how your child sits and remind them of the importance of good posture at their desk.

As for the issue of school bags, there are a few things you can sort out.

• Choose a bag that has rigid back support bars that contour to the spine.
• The shoulder straps should be adjusted so the top of the bag is level with the shoulder blades. If there is a waist strap, it should be firm on the hips, taking the weight off the shoulders and transferring it to the hips.
• How the bag is packed is very important. Heavier items should be on the bottom with lighter items on top. Make sure the things that need to be accessed readily are towards the top of the bag.
• Weight should be distributed evenly, not more to one side than the other.
• Make sure your child doesn’t sling all the weight onto one shoulder. They need to know how wear the bag properly!

Observe your child’s posture. Do they lean more to one side than the other? Are they experiencing pain? Do they regularly go over on their ankles?

Any of these issues and many more can be addressed by a paediatric physiotherapist. If you have any concerns or wish to make an appointment, contact Western Paediatric Physiotherapy today on 03 80012042. We are located at 1 Woodville Park Drive, Hoppers Crossing.

Western Paediatric Physiotherapists focus on physiotherapy for growing bodies.