The school bag must be suitable for the size!
With the opening of schools just days away, experts warn of heavy bags. Improper use of the bag and heavy bags can cause shoulder, neck and back pain and numbness in the arms and hands. According to experts, it is necessary to choose a bag suitable for the child's height. Objects with more weight in the bag should be placed closer to the back and lighter items should be placed in the front pockets of the bag. Both shoulder straps should be worn while carrying the bag.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora warned about what should be considered when choosing a school bag.
Heavy bags cause shoulder and back pain
Stating that various problems may arise as a result of improper use of school bags, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora said, "School bags are designed for children to carry the load of school supplies more easily. They do this by bringing the load closer to the center of gravity of the body and distributing the weight evenly over the shoulders and spine. Various problems can arise as a result of improper use of school bags and loading them heavier than they should be. Shoulder and back pain, numbness in the arms and hands are the most common ones. In particular, improper adjustment of the shoulder straps of the bag and one-sided use of the straps can cause posture disorders in the spine."
Heavy school bags do not cause short stature
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora reminded that there is a common misconception that heavy school bags cause scoliosis or short stature, known as spinal curvature, and stated that these claims are not true. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora said, "There is no scientific study showing that a heavy school bag causes spinal curvature (scoliosis) or short stature in children. However, a child who constantly carries a heavy school bag may experience pain in the shoulders, neck, back and legs. The child whose body's center of gravity changes with the heavy bag becomes more vulnerable to injuries due to falls."
Heavy items should be placed close to the back
Emphasizing that the weight of the school bag should not exceed -15% of the child's body weight, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora said, "To achieve this, unnecessary items should be removed from the bag. In order to make it easier to carry, objects with more weight should be placed closer to the back area, and lighter items should be placed in the front pockets of the bag. Both shoulder straps should be worn while carrying the bag. The length of the shoulder straps should be adjusted so that the bag fits snugly on the back but does not squeeze the shoulders too much."
What should the ideal school bag look like?
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora also described an ideal school bag as follows:
First of all, it should be the right size for the child's age and height. Bags that are too big will both create extra weight themselves and make it difficult to carry with the random movement and downward sagging of the materials inside. The shoulder straps of small bags can squeeze the arms and cause numbness and tingling in the arms. In addition, they may cause back pain as they will not fit the child's waist area properly.
- There must be double shoulder straps.
- Shoulder straps must be thick and supported with enough soft material in places that will put pressure.
- If possible, there should be a waist band to distribute the weight more evenly and fit the waist.
- There should be enough support in the back and waist area
- Bags should be checked every day
Emphasizing that families should check the child's bag every morning and intervene to reduce its content if necessary, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kerem Canbora said, "Especially from time to time, they should question their children in terms of neck, shoulder, back and waist pain and consult a specialist if necessary."