A BOURNEMOUTH osteopath is urging parents and teachers to consider the implications to children’s health of carrying heavy school bags.

He says such burdens can put pressure on the discs between the vertebrae, which can cause long-term back pain in still-developing bodies.

The long-term effects of carrying heavy bags include strains on the neck and shoulder, leading to headaches, fatigue, poor posture and strain to the arms and wrists.

Children can also suffer from muscular pain, tingling and numbness in the arms and legs, and even mobility problems.

Although most senior schools provide lockers, students often claim they are too short of time to use them between lessons.

And with many pupils now studying for 10 or more GCSEs, they can have a lot of books and equipment to carry around.

Doctors say that fully-grown adults should carry no more than 15 per cent of their bodyweight for anything more than a short period of time, or they risk injuring themselves. For children, whose bones are still growing and hardening, 10 per cent is a safe limit – yet some are carrying up to 20 per cent of their own bodyweight.

Nigel Graham, a past president of the British Osteopathic Association, said: “Parents can help by packing their children’s rucksacks and making sure the heavier items are nearer to the child’s back.

“Heavier items on the outside of the bag tend to throw the child’s centre of gravity out of balance, which leads to bad posture and increases the chances of them straining their backs.”

A backpack, properly worn, is usually more comfortable than a bag that only puts strain on one shoulder, and it’s best to buy one with wide, padded straps that can be adjusted as the child grows.

Mr Graham recommends checking your child’s posture when he or she has put on the bag. If you notice any leaning forward or slouching, check whether the bag is too heavy or has been packed incorrectly.

Make sure your child is carrying only what he or she needs for that day and remove any unnecessary books and equipment.

Research has found that around a fifth of school-age children have back pain, and by the time they are 16, around one in 10 will have been to see a doctor about it. More than half of 18 to 34-year-olds now have back pain.

And for girls who wear flat pumps or heels more than two inches high, there can be further health risks, Mr Graham warned.

High heels cause stress on the joints of the foot because the whole weight of the body is forced into a narrow, pointed area. They also force the thigh muscles to work harder, putting extra strain on the knee joints and tendon that runs from the knee cap to the thigh bone.

Compared with walking barefoot, high heels increase the pressure on the inside of the knee by 26 per cent, in time leading to osteoarthritis.

“Flat shoes are usually easier on your feet, but with no shock absorbency and little heel support, there is a risk of developing a painful condition called plantar fasciitis (pain on the soles of your feet) and calcaneal bursitis (pain under the heel),” explained Mr Graham.

“The answer is to change your style of shoes regularly and avoid the extremes.

“Wearing the same type of shoe all the time can force your foot into an unnatural position.”