Schoolbags and Your Child’s Back

Choosing a new school bag isn’t just about buying what looks good. Many parents have concerns about back problems in children, and wonder whether weighty school bags are to blame.

Back pain

Back pain in children is common. Most cases settle and are not due to serious medical conditions. Many factors can be involved in causing back pain. Poor posture while sitting down, long periods of not doing much (while watching TV, for example), and individual levels of physical activity are all things that affect the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Not doing any exercise at all, as well as doing a lot of very intensive sport, can lead to back problems.

Although a lot of back pain will end up being called “non-specific low back pain,” it is worth noting that back pain may be due to more serious conditions. Features to watch out for in your child include: worsening pain, stiffness with the pain, pain in a very young child, pain that does not settle easily, weight loss, fever, pain affecting physical abilities, back pain with weak legs or with numbness in the legs. There are also specific back conditions that are more commonly seen in athletic children, like those who do sports like gymnastics or diving, or skateboarders who land hard on their feet or bottoms.

One-off problems caused by overusing or straining muscles tend to settle quickly and need little intervention. Children who have repeated episodes of back pain may miss school activities, be kept off sports, or end up staying at home. So although most cases of back pain are not medically significant, they can still impact a child’s life enormously.

What about schoolbags?

Well, there’s no denying that some kids carry a lot. Some may be hauling eight kilograms (or more) of stuff around with them in their schoolbags. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder (so your child regularly ends up leaning to one side) or having an overly heavy pack on the back that pulls your child backwards (so they try to bend forward, or to arch their backs) can cause back strain and overuse injuries.

Does carrying a heavy schoolbag actually cause back pain?

It is difficult to prove that heavy bags are directly responsible for back pain in children, but they are certainly an important element. A child with back, shoulder or neck pain could have strained the muscles while carrying a full, badly packed backpack. Studies have been unable to come up with a definite conclusion because of other factors – as mentioned already, some kids are less active in general, and many spend time hunched over screens for both entertainment and education.

Is there an ideal backpack?

Choose backpacks made of lightweight material. A backpack should be worn over both shoulders, not carried on just one shoulder. Look for wide, padded shoulder straps, a chest strap, hip straps – all straps should be easily adjustable – and a design that contours the pack close to the body. When worn, a backpack should not hang low or be loose. A good school backpack has features in common with a good hiking backpack.

Aim to place the heaviest items so that they are close to your child’s back. Together with your child, keep an eye on contents and regularly take out unnecessary things (this may lead to disputes!). Repack contents regularly so that items get redistributed without all the heavy stuff ending up on one side or at the top. Encourage use of the chest and hip straps; they are good for distributing the weight evenly (some kids may be reluctant to use them).

Advice varies, but most recommendations suggest the weight of a backpack plus its contents should not go above 10 to 15 percent of your child’s weight. Unfortunately, with the heavy loads some children have to carry, a backpack can end up equal to 30 or 40 percent of a child’s body weight.

Why not calculate 15 percent (or even higher) of your own weight and think how you would feel if you had to carry that amount around with you.

What about expensive backpacks?

Spending SFr. 200 on a Schulthek (a Swiss schoolbag) won’t necessarily prevent back pain. A well-designed backpack is important, but it is also important to (a) wear the backpack correctly, (b) make sure weight is distributed evenly, (c) take regular exercise, and (d) develop strategies to reduce what is being carried.

Do you try to control the weight of your child’s schoolbag? What strategies do you have? Have your children had back problems? Was the heaviness of their schoolbags a factor?

Disclaimer: Please seek advice from your child’s paediatrician if you have concerns or doubts about back pain.

By Dr. Jahura Hossain

Born and brought up in London, Jahura is a U.K.-qualified doctor. She has worked in hospitals, general practice, public health, prison medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Illustration by Laura Munteanu

Laura has studied Journalism and Advertising, and has been working as a journalist and an illustrator. She has been illustrating for magazines, websites, charity and different campaigns. She lives in Zurich with her husband and her 5 -year- old daughter.

Photo by Andrea Snashall

© Copyright. Jahura Hossain. 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without the express consent of the author.