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Children risk deformities like scoliosis carrying heavy schoolbags, says MP Heavy schoolbags pose health threat to children, claims MP
(about 9 hours later)
Schoolchildren are at risk of developing back deformities because of burdensome backpacks, a federal MP has warned. Schoolchildren are at risk of developing back problems because of burdensome backpacks, a federal MP has claimed.
Liberal MP Luke Simpkins wants the nation’s education ministers to tackle the problem at their next meeting. Liberal MP Luke Simpkins said he wanted Australia’s education ministers to tackle the problem at their next meeting.
Related: Dr Dillner's health dilemmas: are heavy schoolbags bad for children's backs?Related: Dr Dillner's health dilemmas: are heavy schoolbags bad for children's backs?
Simpkins said children were at risk of irreversible deformities because they were carrying such heavy loads, pointing to increasing reports of spinal abnormalities and scoliosis in Britain and Ireland. Simpkins claimed children were at risk of irreversible health conditions because they were carrying such heavy loads, pointing to increasing reports of spinal abnormalities and scoliosis in Britain and Ireland.
He was alerted to the problem after the uncle of a Perth teenager complained to him. The uncle found his nephew’s bag weighed more than seven kilograms, 20% of the boy’s body weight. He was alerted to the problem after the uncle of a Perth teenager complained to him. The uncle found his nephew’s bag weighed more than 7kg, 20% of the boy’s body weight.
That was the same as army trainees during rigorous exercises in the 1980s, something which Simpkins, a former Duntroon graduate, knows about.That was the same as army trainees during rigorous exercises in the 1980s, something which Simpkins, a former Duntroon graduate, knows about.
Simpkins said it was scary that children carrying more than 15% of their body weight risked permanent damage. Simpkins, who has no medical qualifications, said it was scary that children carrying more than 15% of their body weight risked permanent damage.
“This represents a health threat to our children,” he told parliament on Monday.“This represents a health threat to our children,” he told parliament on Monday.
However, according to Dr Luisa Dillner: “Studies have shown that while carrying a heavy bag affects how a person walks (for example changing the head-neck angle, making the shoulders asymmetrical and increasing how much the hips and knees move), there is no evidence that it causes any lasting condition, such as scoliosis.”
The Scoliosis Assocation (UK) said the condition was not caused by carrying a heavy backpack.
“In most cases, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) has no known cause. Scoliosis does not occur because of anything the patient did or failed to do and … can only be prevented when it is due to rickets or poliomyelitis.”