Aug 31, 2004 – Two in five teens suffer from back pain that could be attributed to carrying their school bag, study finds1 conducted by American experts in pediatric orthopedics.
As parents and students navigate the back-to-school whirlwind, a recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics Orthopedics reminds us that the burden of education not only affects the intellect of our teenagers, but also their backs.
After noting the weight of 3,498 students aged 11 to 15, researchers in California did the same with their school bags. They then discovered that when the school bag reached or exceeded 20% of the student’s weight, the student tended to suffer from back pain.
Almost two-thirds of study participants said they had occasional back pain, while 90% of young people with aching spines said they experienced severe or very severe pain. Almost 20% of them had missed a class or extracurricular activity because of back pain, and as many had seen a doctor to remedy the condition.
They can take it because they are young, you think? David Simbianes, lead researcher of the study, warns us: Medical research reveals that adults who suffer from very severe back problems often experienced a similar ailment during their youth.
The experts go there with a few tips to avoid back strain: choose a backpack that does not go lower than the waist; make sure the bag has padded straps and a belt clip; carry the backpack on both shoulders and place the heaviest books close to the back; always bend the knees when lifting the bag; and, if possible, do not attempt to carry all of the books required for all classes at once.
Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net
1. Simbianes D, Martinez JW, Butler EW, Haider T, Influence of School Backpacks on Adolescents back pain, Journal of Pediatrics Orthopedics, March-April 2004; Flight. 24, No 2, 211-17
