School bags can be useful, but they can also be dangerous if they are not fitted properly. The pain they can cause a growing body can affect a child their whole life long.
Here are some tips in helping your child be pain free for school – and for life!
- Never let your child carry more than 10-15% of their body weight. If they lean forward, it is too heavy no matter how much they are carrying.
- The bottom of a school bag should come to the level of the curve in the low back – and never below.
- Using a bag that has wide padded straps is important for protecting nerves and blood supply to the arm
- Put heavier items closer to the back and in the middle of the bag – pad them if they slide.
Be aware of your child’s body language. They may not say anything, but if there are signs of pain, tingling or coldness in their hands or pain in their arms – this is NEVER NORMAL and they need to be booked in for an assessment. Come in and see us – we are now located at our very own beautiful 9 Upper Wimpole Street (having moved from Harley Street and Notting Hill osteopath clinics).
