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Physiotherapist offers school bag safety tips
Back-to-school does not have to mean a return to back pain for students carrying overloaded school bags.
Physiotherapist and University of the Sunshine Coast teacher, Daniel Mellifont, has urged parents to take some simple precautions to improve spinal safety for school students.
Mr Mellifont, who is this year developing Physiotherapy programs to be offered by USC in 2009, said it was important to invest in a good backpack that fitted well.
He said limiting the load that goes into school bags and maintaining good posture while wearing them were key factors.
“All too often, physiotherapists see people with back and neck pain due to carrying hefty bags that drag down,” he said.
“In particular, physios see students whose developing bodies aren't ready to be ‘slaves to fashion’, but who sling their bags over one shoulder, and stand with their back slumped and a hip stuck out to the side.”
Mr Mellifont said parents should encourage students to wear both straps of a backpack, keep the load symmetrical, and to stand comfortably tall.
“This can make a massive difference to the impact on young spines,” he said.
Mr Mellifont suggested parents visit the Australian Physiotherapy Association website at www.physiotherapy.asn.au for information about backpacks.
— Terry Walsh