translated from Spanish: They recommend that the backpack should be wheelless and not weigh more than 10% of the child’s kilos

With a different frenzy than in other years, given the uncertainty of the modality of classes that will be made this 2021, school purchases are already quite installed in the country. However, with the focus almost entirely on the advancement of the coronavirus, some risks that could be avoided by purchasing the right items are overlooked.
The child traumatologist at Clínica MEDS, Constanza Ramírez, explained that the choice of backpack and shoes is very important, as they will be used all year round and must be comfortable to avoid injury.
In the case of the backpack, the specialist recommended that it be used on both shoulders, with balanced weight, and avoiding bags with only one strap, as they can bring problems to the spine.
“Ideally, in addition to the backpack straps being padded and it should be noted that the maximum weight recommendation to be loaded by a school member is 10% of its weight. We see children carrying backpacks much heavier than that many times,” the traumatologist said.
And while especially in younger children, parents usually opt for wheeled backpacks, the specialist does not recommend them. “Backpacks with wheels, while allow us to decrease the weight part, have the problem that the child when carrying it is hunched over, with the backpack being carried on one side,” he said.
Ramirez added that in these cases, and when children attend classes on a second or third floor, they must carry it. “There again we must consider that that backpack should go on the back, on both shoulders and with a weight not more than 10% of the student’s weight,” he said.
Little growers?
Thinking that most of the uniform offering is available only during February and March, many parents choose to buy a size more than usual, considering that especially children and adolescents tend to grow rapidly.
The traumatologist advises not to wear this practice to the shoes, as “the footwear must be comfortable and for the child’s foot. Growing shoes are not suitable because it is not comfortable. In addition, they should be wide in the toe area and should not be tightened,” explained clinic specialist MEDS.
He added that shoes have to be soft in the heel area, because it is a very common area of pain in children and adolescents, and the sole of the shoe should not slip.
“A shoe with a sliding sole is a risk factor for accidents. On the other hand, the buttress of the shoe, that is, the part that goes on the heel must be firm. The shoe does not need to have a high top, but the heel area does need to be firm and that means I can’t bend it with one finger. If this area is not firm, there is less stability and increased risk of injury,” the child specialist warned.

Original source in Spanish