KEY POINTS:
School students carrying bags equivalent to the weight of a sack of spuds is creating a nation of hunchbanks, says a Dunedin physiotherapist.
Steve August said an increasing number of children were being left with a "dowager's hump" caused by a combination of the heavy school backpacks and a sedentary lifestyle.
"To an extent, these factors are creating a nation of hunchbacks," he told the Otago Daily Times.
Mr August said he saw too many children walking with a stooped posture.
"That posture traps nerves, causes nerve damage, headaches, neck problems, and occupational overuse syndrome."
Often the symptoms could last well into adulthood.
Mr August said he was one of many physiotherapists who had experienced an increasing number of school students wanting appointments for treatment of these symptoms.
A typical teenager's school bag contained textbooks, ring binders, sports gear, lunch, and laptops, adding up to a weight equivalent to a sack of potatoes on their neck, shoulders and back, he said.
The problem was particularly bad for students who carried their bag over one shoulder, which created the potential for an asymmetrical spine.
Some schools were now offering students an ergonomic backpack which distributed weight evenly, reducing muscle fatigue and stress on the spine.
- NZPA
