Back to School Basics
Holidays, a time to rest, relax, recover and more often than not run after the children as they find ways to enjoy the holidays: however all good things must come to an end. Heading to school, for the first time or returning to school, meeting new classmates and teachers can be a really exciting time for your children. As parents the excitement is variable, mixed emotions of sending your youngest to school/ high school, watching them grow and develop and seeing their knowledge bases increase exponentially. Enjoy it, and even more so enjoy it without undue injury or pain. Here we have listed a few tips on backpacks, school shoes and keeping children active.
As the holidays come to a close and you are preparing the children for the school year it is important to choose a safe and well fitting backpack to protect from injury, most commonly back, neck and shoulder pain. The Australian physiotherapy association has guidelines which were developed as a result of increased back pain incidence in school aged teens. We have added a link below for you.
Our TOP 7 Backpack Tips:
- Avoid the temptation of getting a backpack to grow into: a backpack should fit firm and sung on the back, and have wide straps that can be tightened so it does not hang past the buttocks.
- A backpack should weigh no more than 10% of the child's body weight
- Selecting a backpack with wide and comfortable shoulder straps, chest and waist straps can assist with posture and offload some of the weight to the hips and pelvis to decrease the load on the lower back
- Ensure both shoulder straps are used, not the coolest look for the teens, but having a sore back is far less comfortable and prevents participation in sports and social activities.
- Pack the heaviest items closes to your child's back: the load will be easier to manage.
- Only pack what needs to be packed: use folders where possible and school lockers are a great idea: offload what you don't need all day and keep the backpack as light as possible.
- Keep children physically active: such as walking to school. Physical activity and strength are important and a strong core can protect the back.
The Australian government has some easy to read guidelines for physical activity.
For 5-12 year olds here are a few tips:
- Limit use of electronic media ( video games, iPads, computers and Television) to no more than 2 hours per day.
- If sitting for long periods is required: have a movement break. Even if it is just to go for a quick walk, or kick a soccer ball outside.
- Children should spend at least 60 minutes per day ( throughout the day) of moderate to vigorous activity. In addition muscle and bone strength should be addressed 3 times per week. This doesnt mean weight lifting but can simple be weight bearing exercises and exercises using the body weight: crab races, squatting, jumping and skipping, pushing up off the floor.
- At this age engaging in sporting activities is enough for strengthening and coordination and can help with not only physical health but also social and emotional health.
More here
Supportive footwear is an essential component for sporting activities and return to school. As children head to high school the temptation to wear casual style shoes reveals itself, however they do not support foot posture and in some cases are contributors to injury.
Here are our top tips for choosing footwear:
- The heel of the shoe should be firm and not collapse inwards on itself
- Adequate cushioning for shock absorption is necessary to protect the joints: choose a firm and slightly raised sole with the main flex point at the ball of the foot. If the shoe can be folded on itself: it’s usually a sign the shoe won't be firm enough.
- Select the right width: feet are so variable and so are shoes, so ensure length and width are addressed when getting your child fitted for shoes.
- Small arch support may be a key feature: particularly if flat feet are an issue for your child: inserts or orthotics may also help with this: if you are concerned about flat feet book an assessment with one of our physiotherapists, or head to our ask a physio section on the website. Therapist picks: Ascent range of school shoes, or the scholl orthaheel range of shoes.
We hope all of the advice above helps you and your children have a healthy safe and injury free year. We are here for you at Active Physiotherapy.