Bag to basics

It's back-to-school time again. Time for new books, new school bags — and new back problems. At an age when they should be enjoying their childhood, children are more likely to be racking up lifelong back problems caused by heavy school bags. As the new school year approaches, some parents are searching for a solution. Jacintha D'silva, mother of 8-year-old Jason, is one such parent. "It's an issue that we are taking up with the faculty as concerned parents," she says. "My son carries 12 books in his backpack daily. Textbooks are sent home daily even though they can be kept back in school."

Chantyl Daniells, mother to 11-year-old Joshua and 9-year-old Leanne, took an extreme measure: she changed schools. "In their previous school, my children carried 15 books every day. As a mother it is disconcerting that schools in this day and age still have the children carrying such heavy bags. This is one of the reasons we were forced to change schools."

The problem of physical stress under overloaded school bags can lead to immediate and future back problems, says Dr Zbigniew Brodzinski, senior consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon, at Dubai Bone And Joint Centre. "I see cases of children with back issues regularly in my clinic. When children carry heavy backpacks, the weight causes them to lean forward, reducing balance and distorting the natural curves in their middle and lower backs. This ‘forward head posture' can pull the entire spine out of alignment. It results in pressure on the thoracic vertebra and could lead to a hump on the back. It also causes muscle strain and irritation to the spine joints."

This means we may be seeing children as young as 6 and 7 developing back injuries and conditions. "The back is no different from other parts of our bodies. It tends to correct the imbalance in the body brought on due to the load. We see cases of scoliosis [when the spine curves away from the centre or sideways] and kyphoscoliosis [misalignment of the curvature of the spine accompanied by hunchback or rounding of the back]," adds Dr Brodzinski

The problem is not caused just by weight, however: it is also an issue of how the bag is being carried by the child, Dr Brodzinski says. "Children often sling their backpack over one shoulder. The strained muscles then try to compensate for the imbalance. The spine tends to lean on the opposite side, stressing the middle back, ribs and lower back resulting in muscle spasm and back pain in the short term and bigger problems in the long term. The weight stretches the neck muscles which leads to headaches, neck and arm pains and tingling."

Creating awareness

Some solutions being offered are pull-along trolleys and the use of technology by way of computers. Dr Brodzinski recommends parents and schools get educated about the ill effects of backpacks.

"Research does not prove that pull-along trolleys are better than backpacks. If backpacks cause a strain, then trolleys cause damaging spinal rotation. The general consensus is that a well-packed backpack carried on both shoulders within the mandated weight limit is a better option. Consult a paediatric spinal surgeon if your child is suffering from back pain," he suggests.

Daniells believes technology and planning can save children's backs. "With plenty of resources available online, carrying textbooks will soon be made a thing of the past. Besides, reading books online is an environment-friendly method of learning. Both my children get a homework sheet at the beginning of the week and one homework book to do their work in. They hand in their project and homework at the end of each week using the internet for any research that may be required."

Meanwhile, other mothers such as D'silva are hoping the coming school year will prove different for their children. "Computers are used in schools as a teaching medium but there's definitely room for improvement within this system and we are happy that the school management is open to discussing it with us," she adds.

— Andrea Bailey is a UAE-based freelance writer

Parents can help prevent back injury

• Ensure that children only carry what is required, taking care to clear the bag daily.
• Pack the bag carefully, placing large items at the base and lighter items at the top. Teach children to hold, put on and carry the bag correctly.
• Use the correct bag size depending on your child's age, height and requirements.
• Backpack weight should not be more than 10 per cent of child's weight and should fit comfortably on to the child's back.
• If the school provides a locker system, children could have two sets of textbooks, one for school and one for home.