That heavy school bag is harming your child! Find out how

Children nowadays are burdened not only by their heavy school work but also by their heavy school bags. However, we don’t realize that heavy school bags have a catastrophic effect on health.

Problems children suffer due to heavy school bags.

According to health experts, over 60 percent of schoolchildren with heavy backpacks suffer from backbone and muscle problems, neck pain and also slouched posture. There is an urgent need to tackle this issue because heavy schoolbags because experts say that children’s bones are soft up to the age of 18 and the spine is not too strong to carry heavy load on their shoulders.

Satnam Singh Chhabra, Director, Neuro Spine Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital says that the habit of carrying a school bag on one shoulder is wrong and should be avoided as it strains the muscles. The spine leans to the opposite side, stressing the middle back, muscle strain, muscle spasm, and back pain. Furthermore, a heavy backpack puts pressure on the neck muscles causing headache, shoulder pain, lower back pain and neck and arm pain. 

Here are some expert tips to protect your child from the perils of a heavy school bags.

1. Satnam Singh Chhabra suggests that parents should encourage their children to carry bags on both the shoulders.

2. A.B Goregaonkar, professor and head of orthopaedics at Mumbai’s L.T.M. Medical College and Hospital emphasized the need to include a compulsory physical education period in children’s curriculum that will help children be fit and flexible.

3. He also said that children’s diet should be rich in proteins, vitamin D and calcium. They should participate in outdoor games and strengthen their muscles and increase stamina too.

4. Arvind Kulkarni, head of Spine Scoliosis and Disc Replacement Centre at Bombay Hospital, suggests that children should avoid carrying their backpack low near the hips as it puts a strain on their lower back. Also, the material of the backpack should be light, while adjustable shoulder straps on the backpacks are a must.

5. He also said that backpacks with padded backs should be used, and those with wheels are an added advantage as it will help in reducing the strain on the back and shoulders. 

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