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Heavy school bags 'cause irreversible back deformities'
Posted by SchoolDays Newshound on 13/03/2012.
Tags: Parenting Kids HealthCarrying overloaded bags is leading to a rise in the number of school children being seen with irreversible back deformities.
This is according to a new study by the charity BackCare, which explained how half of all youngsters suffer back pain by the age of 14, the Daily Mail reports.
Children who routinely carry backpacks weighing more than 15 per cent of their body weight risk long-term damage, health experts warn, with BackCare estimating many in fact carry 20 per cent.
"Many are carrying their bags on one shoulder or are increasingly carrying them on the crook of their elbow, so are placing a great strain on the spine," the organisation's spokesperson Sean McDougall remarked.
He warned the problem is a "healthcare timebomb" and said parents need to ensure their offspring only take what they need to school with them and always wear their backpack on two shoulders.
In 2010, Michael Lynch of the Irish Independent claimed children in Ireland carry an average school bag weighing 11.8 kg, which is well above the 3.7 kg recommended by a government working group.
Written by Donal Walsh
maggie
(24-08-2013 22:52)
Finally, there is a solution to the heavy schoolbag problem and something that you can do yourself. New business - www.booksplits.ie just launched. Cut your schoolbooks in half (yes, really!) and use the booksplits pack to rebind each half separately. Doesn't damage the book, just allows you have it in two parts. Then the student only needs to take home the half of the book that is required for homework each night, leaving the other half in the locker. You can literally halve the weight of your schoolbooks, instantly.
maya
(04-09-2012 11:04)
something needs to be done now this is cruelty to children we are living in the 21st century not back in 1940s we all the teclonogy they have please bring in the ipads it saves a lot of worry
DebMcMahon
(04-09-2012 17:26)
or do what they do in my lads primary school and only take home the books you need for homework.
Ipads will only swap one health problem for another such as Computer vision syndrome (more children needing glasses)and photo sensitivity epilepsy for children who are predisposed.