Heavy Backpacks May Lead to Back Pain in Kids, Experts Warn Parents

As students head back to school this fall, health experts are warning parents to check the heaviness of their children's backpacks regularly, as this could lead to long-term back pain issues.

On any given school day, kids carry their school bags filled with books, notebooks, and other items from one classroom to the next, even if they can deposit some of these items in their lockers. Some may even have school bags that are not the right size for their height and weight or have improper designs that do not support the bag's pressure on the body.

Ideally, the children's backpacks should not exceed 15 percent of the child's body weight, per recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. So, if a student is about 75 pounds, her bag should not be over 11 pounds heavy.

The backpacks must also have wide, padded straps that have to be worn on both sides to counterbalance the weight. Their textbooks should be placed closer to the body so they won't bear additional heaviness.

Watch out for signs of struggles

Health experts told Fox News that parents should be proactive and watch out for signs of struggles in their children.

One mom said that her daughter started complaining about persistent pain in the upper back and neck. She initially thought the pain had something to do with the child's sports activities. However, a consultation revealed that the daughter was physically suffering from her backpack.

Doctors prescribed weeks of osteopathic manipulation so the child could correct the strains on her neck and back. She also had to learn specific exercise routines to strengthen her upper back.

One way for parents to check if the backpack is heavy is through the child's posture. If she's leaning forward or to the side while wearing the backpack, it's a sure sign of an overloaded bag. If the child feels some numbness and tingling in the arms or legs or develops red marks on the shoulders, it could be due to how she uses her backpack.

Dr. David Gentile said heavy backpacks could impact the spine's natural curve, so the children's posture changes. He said parents must educate their kids to avoid inflicting pain on themselves.

They need to be reminded to make frequent trips to the lockers. They also have to use all compartments on the backpack to spread the weight evenly, with the heaviest items closer to the spine.

Edward Farrell of Physical Solutions Physical Therapy in New York also said that back problems may be compounded whenever kids "sling the backpack over one shoulder." He said that kids must properly put both straps, including the waistbelt if this is part of the bag's features.

More recommendations from the experts

The experts have seen the problems of carryings heavy backpacks far too many times. From 2017 to 2019, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that over 7,500 school kids below 19 years old had backpack-related injuries and were treated in the emergency room.

In addition to minimizing the load, parents may consider giving their kids two bags to carry on the front and back. They could also provide book bags with wheels if the kids usually do not have any more time to make stops by their lockers.

However, some considerations may also be carefully considered for bags with wheels as schools may not allow this type of bag, or the child might have to get up and down several flights of stairs. If they are not careful, this could lead to accidents as well.