Vincent Cunin, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, gives us his advice on choosing a school bag to best relieve his back throughout the school year.
- A bag, even too heavy, does not aggravate children’s back problems.
- The ideal is to have a weight that does not exceed 10% of the weight of the child.
- Playing sports strengthens the back and limits the physiological pain of the child related to its rapid growth.
While the return to the school benches took place this Thursday, this weekend marks that of the purchases of supplies for the school year. Among them, the choice of the binder is a crucial moment. To find out how to find your way around and what criteria to take into account, Vincent Cunin, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, reminds us of the good advice to follow.
Bags that are too heavy do not weigh on children’s back health
The doctor first insists on one point: “a bag, even too heavy, does not aggravate children’s back problems”. It is therefore necessary first to reassure the parents. It is normal for children to have back pain. At this time of life, they grow very quickly and will therefore weigh more heavily without the vertebrae being able to follow. “About one in two children report suffering from back pain, it’s physiological”, says Vincent Cunin. For those with scoliosis, the heavy school bag will not make their problem worse.
In an ideal world, the weight of the backpack should not exceed 10% of the child’s weight. In fact, this is almost never the case. “The real challenge is on the side of schools where we should push for the establishment of lockers and two sets of books so that children do not have to carry bags that are too heavy.pleads the surgeon. That being said, it is necessary to minimize the negative effects with the parents because the consequences on the health of the back health of the children are not serious..”
To strengthen the back, practice regular physical activity
It is best to carry the backpack with both straps over both shoulders because “asymmetries are always less well supported”, assures Vincent Cunin. It would also be better to have a school bag on wheels although it can be very difficult to impose it on your child. In terms of shape, it is better to favor flexible bags. Finally, it is best to wear the bag on the buttocks because this allows the force to be transferred to the pelvis and avoids all the force resting on the back and shoulders.
The last point on which the orthopedic pediatric surgeon insists is the need for children to practice regular physical activity. “If the back moves, it will be better able to defend itself against painhe continues. A muscular back is a less painful back.”
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