A recent study shows that 30% of school-going kids complain of back pain. Problems such as backache,spinal deformities and lung problems rises due to the increase of weight in children school bag. A recent study by experts has shown that heavy school bags will result in permanent disability as growth is affected has set off alarm bells across the globe.
Children today carry bags that are nearly 30 to 40% of their body weight, whereas according to guidelines, bags must not weight than 10% of their body weight. Ravi Verma of the Uday foundation question the need to carry heavy text book to school when right now the use of technology is increasing. In addtion there are also some classes when homeworks are sent via online for children to do their work at home. Children are also required to carry guide books, reference books and practise books, adding to the burden. In worst case scenario is that most primary classrooms are on the second or third level in school. Thus it means children have to slog that much more.
Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr C Ranganath, who sees at least 3-4 children each month complaining of backache, confirms this problem. Since cases of backache in children are usually rare, so when i see children with such complaints, the source of the problem often comes from heavy bags. Backache, deformities of the back, change in posture and shoulder problems are all a result of carrying heavy loads. Deformity of the spine could also affect the growth of lungs as there is pressure on the chest wall. The first solution Ranaganath suggest is reducing the weight of school bags.
Dr Murali Mohan, a neuro and spine surgeon, says the weight of schoolbags must be restricted to 10% of child's body weight, and adds that it is important that children are encouraged to be more physically active. "Children are definitely burdened with carrying heavy school bags. Unlike adults, they are unable to adjust their body posture while they walk". If this is done over a long period of time, can result in chronic back pain, which becomes more pronounced later on in life, he warns.
Many effort has been put in as schools now give worksheets in the form of text books to reduce the weight for children. Homework is rarely given, and even when the teachers give homework is only for certain subjects. Thus this shows that schools are trying to solve the problem for heavy schoolbags. Lockers systems are also available for higher classes to store their stuff.
The problem is not all schools followed this method thus the problem about the children school bag too heavy still exists and solutions are only temporary.
Bibilography: Desai, Dhwani Desai, A burden too heavy to bear?, | Dec 28, 2013, 12.00AM IST. Accessed on 21 Feburary 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting/A-burden-too-heavy-to-bear/articleshow/24750740.cms
