No matter what age we are, we have to take care of our backbone. The spine is a vital part of our body, as it allows us to walk and move.
If the spine is not in its normal shape and position, it could lead to serious back pain. Also, your upper body could be bent, badly affecting your appearance.
Dr George Hwang of the Children Chiropractic Foundation (CCF) said the public and the government has low awareness of the issue of children's spinal health.
'There are no recent statistics from any public health sources in Hong Kong,' Dr Hwang said. According to Dr Hwang, in a survey of 200 chiropractors, 71 per cent reported they are currently seeing up to four children, aged between five and 18. They have neck, back and shoulder problems caused by heavy school bags.
'The American Chiropractic Association, the largest chiropractic association [in the world], recommends that school bags not exceed 5 to 10 per cent of body weight,' said Dr Hwang.
In other words, he points out, a 32kg child's school bag should be no heavier than 10kg.
Besides heavy school bags, bad posture is another factor responsible for back pain. 'Prolonged slouching, playing games or doing homework in awkward positions is common among kids,' Dr Hwang said, adding that bad backs are also sometimes caused by sports injuries.
