Photo by Wikimedia Commons.
School children are being crushed beneath the weight of
their backpacks, chiropractors say.
The New Zealand Chiropractors Association (NZCA) has warned
against the classic money-saving technique of buying
new-entrants one bag to last through to university following
a US study which showed how serious the damage to children
can be.
"Two key spinal measurements change as the backpack load
increases," NZCA spokesman Dr Simon Kelly said.
"Heavier weights cause compression of the intervertebral
discs, which act as a cushion between the vertebrae (bones of
the spine). In the lower spine, the disc height became
smaller (reflecting greater disc compression) at heavier
backpack weights. Heavier loads were also associated with
increased curvature of the lower spine, either to the right
or the left."
Bags should be no more than 10% of the child's weight, but a
recent survey by the Chiropractors Association of Australia
found almost half carried bags well over that mark.
Dr Kelly said parents needed to take responsibility for
preserving their children's spines.
"Don't buy a small child a big bag hoping they'll grow into
it. They will always try and fit as much in there as they
can.
"Make sure they carry their backpacks on both shoulders to
spread the load and always check that the bag you're buying
meets their approval. If it's not cool, they won't wear it!"
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