Children are often seen carrying heavy bags to their school. Through parents are concerned about it but not much seems to happen in lessening the weight of the bag that children are carrying. A new study has warned that heavy backpack compresses the spinal discs and increases the curvature of spine. Although the backpack is worn properly and when worn on one shoulder the damage is even worse.
Researchers told that majority of students carry backpacks to and from school and the weight of backpack is same as the child’s body weight. For their study, researchers looked at eight children by using a special magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. They imaged the children without their backpacks and then again.
The MRI images showed that as weights of the backpacks is increased; there is more compression of the discs, which protects the vertebrae, particularly in the lower back area. They also saw significant curving of the spine, the majority of the children had to adjust their posture to handle extra weight.
Children are also seen reporting back pain when the weight of the backpack is increased. The issue of heavy backpack is very serious and both parents and school officials should work on a way to reduce the weight of heavy backpacks.