The choice of the schoolbag requires special attention. And July is a good time to buy school supplies. The opportunity to remember that the weight of the children’s bag is often too heavy for the backs of small schoolchildren. According to latest study on the subject, published by the Federation of Student Parents’ Councils (FCPE) in 2013, the average load of a French student (CM1, CM2, 6th and 5th) amounts to 8.5 kg. Or 20% of the child’s weight.
In a new study, which will be published in the journal Applied Ergonomics In October 2019, researchers from the universities of Granada (Spain) and Liverpool John Moores (United Kingdom) have just estimated the maximum weight that an ordinary schoolbag should weigh, as well as that of a wheeled schoolbag. Because in Spain, where the research was held, more than 40% of children use this type of bag to carry their belongings, they assure.
A bag that is half the weight
In total, the kinematic analysis (posture of the trunk and lower limbs) of 49 elementary school students was evaluated in three situations. The first, when they walked freely, with a light backpack. For the second situation they carried a heavier backpack, with loads of 10%, 15%, and 20% of their weight. For example, an 8-year-old child weighing 20 kilograms carried 2, 3 and 4 kilograms, respectively. Finally, in the third case, the children pulled a wheeled satchel with the same loads.
Scientists found that wearing or pulling the bag caused changes in the child’s hip and trunk posture. These actions caused little change in the knees and ankles. However, they observed that the wheeled schoolbag had less impact on the schoolboy’s body. The gesture would be more like what he performs when walking without a load compared to the backpack. And this, even when the latter weighs little.
Finally, the researchers conclude that young backpackers should avoid wearing loads greater than 10% of their body weight. The load may increase in the event that they prefer a wheeled satchel, but it should not weigh more than 20% of their weight. Recommendations already adopted by the Ministry of National Education since 2007 for worn satchels. The official figure is however only rarely respected, in particular because of too imposing textbooks or binders.
Read also :
- Back pain in children: how to prevent it?
- School bags: one in four children complains of back pain
