Kids and backpacks

Heavy backpacks are the cause of a lot of back pain in children. Previous research has found that most American school kids carry backpacks containing the equivalent of about 10 to 20 percent of their body weight. Is your child carrying too heavy a load during the school week?

As the weight went up, the discs in the children’s lower backs were compressed more. These discs offer cushioning between the bones in the spine. Also, when more weight was put on their backs, the children’s lower spines deviated from their normal position… And they reported more back pain.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends choosing a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back, and organizing the contents so that the heavier items are toward the center of the back. The AAP also encourages children to use both straps over both shoulders rather than slinging the pack over one shoulder only. And you may want to consider a rolling backpack with a handle and wheels, relieving the stress from the back altogether.