FILE PHOTO by Abdul Basit © The Peninsula
The number of young patients visiting Orthopedic Clinics at the Hamad General Hospital (HGH) for back, neck and shoulder pain has increased recently.
Most of them have developed complications due to wrong use of backpacks, following wrong sitting posture and less physical activity, said Dr. Omar Alnori (pictured) of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery at HGH.
“More young patients are coming to our clinics complaining of back, neck and shoulder pain. Some even develop more complicated spine problems at young age. Such pain is common among older people but now we see even at young as 20 or less,” he said.
According to Dr. Alnori some patients are present with functional scoliosis and have mechanical back pain. Functional scoliosis is when the spine appears to be curved, but the apparent curvature is actually the result of an irregularity elsewhere in the body.
“To reduce back, neck, shoulder pain and related complications at the early age, children should be encouraged to do more sport activities and follow correct practices while using backpacks and sit on right position,” he added.
A safe backpack weight should be within 10 or 15 percent of the child’s weight.
“If the child is about 40kg weight, the bag should not weigh more than 4kg to 5kg with books,” said Dr Alnori.
An appropriate backpack should be light weight with multiple compartments. It should be packed with essential books and with heavier ones towards the trunk. Length of the backpack should be two inches from the shoulder to the waist-line of a child.
“Straps should be wide and padded and worn on both shoulders of the child to balance weight or it will cause lower back pain. Straps of the backpack should be tightened as well as waist and chest straps will give extra support for the child,” said Dr. Alnori.
He also highlighted that parents and teachers can play a major role in encouraging children follow correct practices and do physical activities.
“Parents should encourage their children to be physically active. We see young patients with joint pains and it is because they are not active. Also teachers can play a role in correcting children if they sit in a wrong posture,” said Dr Alnori.
In a correct sitting posture arms should be resting parallel to the floor, legs should be in the same position and feet should still be flat. Back should be against the chair, and shoulders should be back (but not lifted or hunched).
