School backpacks, better in cart than in the back
The School backpacks they are one of the products that require more attention. They take the material that children use in school and an excess of weight in these items or a poor distribution of it can cause serious problems in the back of children. Like a defective handles can end up annoying the shoulders of children.
For this reason it is very important look out the back of the children and ensure that these items do not have any negative effect on the health of the little ones. For this purpose it is good to be attentive to the recommendations of professionals, such as the recent study of the University of Granada that reveals that it is better to carry backpacks in a cart that is on the shoulders.
20% more charge
To check the effect of the weight on the backs of schoolchildren, the researchers evaluated 78 schoolchildren between 6 and 12 years who visited the facilities of Biomechanics Laboratory belonging to the University of Granada. In this center students had to go with their backpacks with the loads they usually carried and participate in tests where their body composition was measured by measuring their fat index and muscle level.
In addition, the researchers placed several markers in certain areas of the students to get information about their movement and how their limbs behaved depending on the weight of the backpack and if it was carried on the back or in a cart. Those responsible for this work were surprised to find that 23% of girls carried a load of 20% higher than recommended.
At the same time it was noticed that 47% of the participating students carried a weight very superior to the recommended in your school backpack. Some data that indicate that many children are susceptible to back problems in the future.
The backpack weighs
These researchers also wanted to know the perception that many children have of the weight that they carry on a daily basis depending on the product they use: backpack with handles or cart. The 97% of the students who carry this article on their back said they feel they carry too much weight while 85% of those who use wheels said the same. A smaller percentage and that has more relevance if one considers that normally those who use a car carry a greater load.
These data are also manifested in the feeling of pain that students have. While 43% of school children carry their backpacks To the back They said they felt discomfort, this percentage stood at 31% of those who used a cart to carry their load to school.
Better in cart and with adequate weight
Given the results of this study, those responsible affirm that there is evidence that for the health of the back a cart is always better than a backpack with handles since the wheels make it easier to transport the load and make the child's body suffer less.
Of course, they also warn that the fact that the student transport the material in a cart does not mean that the backpack should be charged more than the account. Items that are brought to school should always be limited to what is necessary and never carry anything unnecessary believing that the wheels will cause the child to drag any weight.
Damián Montero
