Back Care Awareness Week is currently taking place in the UK and the theme this year is Back Pain in Education.
In Europe, back pain is the most common reason for medically certified sick leave and for early retirement. Every year, a total of one million years of productive life is lost in the UK because of disability from low back pain and the costs attributed to it are estimated at £12.3bn a year - £1.6bn on treatment.
The 2019 campaign is aimed at children and young people as many back pain problems in adults are due to them not looking after themselves during childhood and teenage years. In 2015, BackCare surveyed 900 secondary school pupils (11-16 years), showing that two thirds had experienced back pain. One in four UK secondary pupils suffers from back pain regularly – higher amongst girls (27%) than boys (19%).
Here are a few issues which can contribute to back pain in young people:- School bag burden was very common, with half of students saying that said their school bag was often or always too heavy for them. Parents can reduce the risk of schoolbag-related back problems by making sure their child has an appropriately sized backpack and that it isn’t too heavy.
There is a risk of injury if:
- a schoolbag that weighs more than 10 per cent of the child’s weight - a bag is carried in only one hand by its straps - a bag is carried only over one shoulder - the bag is incorrectly packed - the bag is incorrectly fitted
- obesity and poor posture- sitting for long periods
Pupils were also asked to estimate the number of hours they spent sitting in the classroom, at meal times, travelling to school, doing homework and during free time. The survey revealed that secondary pupils sit for an average of nine hours per day.To help prevent back pain in children it is recommended to:
- Encourage ‘walking and stretching’ breaks when doing homework
- Limit television and computer time
- Teach them how to sit properly in a chair
- Make sure their lifestyle includes exercise
Kinesio Taping for back pain is very common as it can help by providing support without restricting range of motion. Kinesio Taping training practitioners can advise on initial application and it's also available in rolls or pre-cut packs in the online shop.
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