Children's back
Back pain does not only affect the elderly. Currently, more than 50 percent of children suffer from back pain . Dr. Domingo Carretero, specialist in traumatology at the Kovacs Foundation, explains what are the causes of back pain in children, why it affects girls more than boys and what children can
Back pain does not only affect the elderly. Currently, more than 50 percent of children suffer from back pain. Dr. Domingo Carretero, specialist in traumatology at the Kovacs Foundation, explains what are the causes of back pain in children, why it affects girls more than boys and what children can do to prevent it. Child back painWhat causes back pain in children?
In children, it has some specific characteristics due to its age and its development. Generally, bad postures, bad habits in the transport of backpacks, and, also, sedentary life with little exercise, influence in an important way, that in certain cases as it is seen, this could possibly be the most important, the lack of an adequate level of exercise.
Why does back pain affect girls more than boys?
Exactly, we do not know why there is that difference. We do not have any study to be able to ensure it, but it is believed that it is because girls tend to exercise less or exercise less than boys. There is a topic in American society that says that boys do sports and girls engage in the arts. We do not know if it is a topic or has some background, but in any case those of us who have children in schools, we know that the number of federated teams of football, basketball and other disciplines is much lower in women than in men.
What are the keys for children to enjoy a healthy back?
It is essential to attend two large sections: one corresponds to a good muscular development through exercise or sports, and another focuses on ergonomics, that is, on good postures.
In the case of exercise and sports, in principle, any exercise better than none. In any case, there are some more complete than others, but always the decisive thing is that it is done continuously, that is why we should stick to what the child likes the most.
Regarding ergonomics or good postures, basically in the child we should consider two: one is the sitting posture. The correct form is the
law of right angles
, the leg forming a right angle with the thigh and the trunk forming a right angle with the thigh, well placed close to the back of the chair, and the arms more or less attached to the body. The height of the desk should be correct, so that it does not force the child to have his shoulders raised up and not hang him either. How should back pain be prevented when transporting school supplies?Parents have to take into account that there are fashions and that fashion has a lot of shot, but it would be better to bring a backpack with wheels with an extendable handle so that it adapts to the child's height. If that does not admit it the fashion and it has to be hung, that is in both shoulders, that the straps are wide, that it has a belt so that it adapts perfectly to the body on the lumbar area of the sacrum, not only on one side in bandolera plan. Always keep in mind that the child should not transport more than 10 percent of their weight, that is, if the child weighs 40 Kg the maximum weight that should carry is 4 Kg. It is difficult to comply, but the more we approach the ideal better we will be doing it.
What other aspects should be taken into account when carrying the school backpack?
Other factors to take into account, very important, are how far the child lives from school, how many meters will the backpack be transported, because if it really lives a few meters away from the school, both positively and negatively, the effect of the backpack and the transport of the school material will be minimal, it is different from the child who has to transport this material a great distance. And on this decisively influences the muscular endowment of that child.
Marisol New
