Watch Your Back As The New Term Starts
| Published: 1st September 2008 21:48 |
Back problems can begin early in life, but be minimised by correcting bad habits.
The BCA has some golden rules:
- Bag it up - A rucksack is the best option for a school bag as long as it is carried over both shoulders, with the straps adjusted to hold the bag close to the back; evenly distributing the weight.
- Keep it light - Make sure your child is not carrying any unnecessary excess weight - check each morning that all the items in their bags are essential.
- Best foot forward - Make sure your child has good footwear; soft-soled shoes that are supportive and have a good grip will make it easier for them to carry a heavy school bag.
- Exercise - Encourage your child to take regular exercise, as the fitter your child is the less likely they are to injure themselves.
- Move around - Limit your child to sittings of no more than 40 minutes on the computer or watching TV, before they get up and do something else for a while.
- Computer posture- When using a PC or a computer console, make sure they are set up so your child is sitting comfortably with spine is supported. They may not realise that the position they are sitting in is painful because they are being distracted by the games!
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