School backpack: how do you prevent back pain?

When choosing between the backpack and the cart, it is better to consider some aspects. The choice may depend on the home-school trajectory, the child’s body and the weight being carried. The right features for a comfortable school backpack are a reinforced back, breathable fabric, wide and padded shoulder straps.

If a sixth grader carries more than 8 kg on their shoulders every day, 34.8% of these students are overloaded. Yes, because he wears a backpack of more than 30% of his body weight at least once a week. This data is worrying because the difficulty of carrying the backpack in relation to the hold time on the shoulders can be the cause of back pain. What is the relationship between backache and backpack transport has yet to be proven.

It is important to say that neither the backpack nor the trolley should be demonized. When choosing which one to use between the two, the assessments to be made are different. If the boy’s road to school is particularly long and does not require getting on and off public transport or other types of stairs, the trolley can be a good alternative to the backpack as the boy can tow it, unloading the weight on the ground. Otherwise, it must be said that the backpack is not a problem, as long as it is the right size and worn correctly. This means that the backpack must first be lifted with both hands, the back straight and the legs bent. Once placed on a table or counter, it can be carried by bringing the weight close to the body and then pulling firmly on the shoulder straps so that the weight fits snugly on the back and reduces strain on the lumbar region.

Marta Tavernaro, physiotherapist from ISICO

These are the hallmarks of the perfect backpack. These are the recommendations for choosing the right backpack and wearing it correctly. A backpack should not weigh too much, it should have padded shoulder straps it is a handle to lift it off the ground. In addition, it must have a reinforced, rigid and well-padded backrest.

A lap belt is preferred to relieve the weight on the pelvis. Do not burden your backpack with unnecessary items, but divide the books in a balanced way. If you travel by public transport, it is better to put it on the ground. To put less strain on your back, put the backpack on a bench and then on.

Trolleys are also recommended if they are properly adjusted in height. They can be inconvenient if you have to climb stairs. Important thing to do sport regularly for good muscle tone, especially in the developing age. A trick to prevent many hours of sitting studying or to reduce the risk of wrong back postures.