NEWS RELEASE

October 30 2002

Teaching the ABC’s of spinal care

Research from UniSA’s Centre for Allied Health has found that one in six adolescents experience lower back pain on a regular basis and that excessively heavy and poorly carried backpacks contributed to this problem. 

The study arose from community concerns for adolescents carrying heavy school bags, coupled with international scientific recognition of the potential for heavy loads to damage growing spines, according to Associate Professor Karen Grimmer. 

In response to this research UniSA’s Centre for Allied Health Research and South Australia’s Department of Education have teamed up to produce spinal care guidelines for school aged children. 

The new guidelines will be launched by the Minister for Education, Trish White MP, at Adelaide High School on Wednesday 30 October, 2 pm. This is the first time in Australia that this step has been taken. 

Posture, use of computers, load carrying, locker use and physical activity were the five key areas identified by the backpack team where students and schools could improve spinal care according to Head of the Centre for Allied Health Research, Dr Karen Grimmer. 

“We have known for some time now that our kids are suffering by carrying heavy and inappropriate backpack loads but there is still a lack of information for students, parents and school communities on how to minimise damage to growing spines,“ said Associate Professor Grimmer. 

 “We needed to identify basic, workable solutions to encourage students not to carry lots of books, portfolios, musical instruments and bags around the school, and to and from home.” 

Many of these solutions are already within their reach says Dr Grimmer. 

“Kids tend to stoop, so from a young age we need to encourage young people to stand tall, shoulders back and tummy in - basic good posture, that will encourage a healthy spine," she said.

“We also need to encourage students to use their lockers as a storage point and to carry only essential educational material with them. Schools need to consult with students about the most appropriate and convenient location for their lockers so as to encourage student use of these facilities.” 

Associate Professor Grimmer also highlighted that schools should look at varying the height and size of school desks and chairs to meet the different needs of different size students. 

“Students in the 21^st Century have to contend with more frequent use of desktop and laptop computer resources that may add further stress to the spine if not properly supported,” she said. 

“There are a number of areas where improved knowledge, altered attitudes and changed habits would make a big difference to spinal health. The investment we make in this now has the potential to save hefty ongoing costs to individuals and the community by preventing serious back problems later in life.”

 UniSA’s five pointers to good back care 

Posture - Stand and sit tall, tuck in your tummy and look straight ahead. 

Best use of computers - Position the screen so your eyes are looking straight ahead, type with your wrists and hands level with your forearms with feet flat on the floor. 

Load carrying - No more than 5 kilos, carry the load close to the spine with the centre of the backpack about. waist level. 

Locker use - Use your locker as a storage space, talk to teachers about how you can make better use of lockers.

Physical activity - Do something active each day that speeds up your heart rate.

Further information: Associate Professor Karen Grimmer, Centre for Allied Health Research, UniSA 83022769 
Media contact :  Thel Krollig, Media Liaison, UniSA, 
(08) 8302 0028 or 0407 726 175

 

 

 

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