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Are Kids Packing Future Back Pain?

Back pain and spine problems are common in young people. Research has been done to try to determine whether carrying heavy backpacks for school has anything to do with the problem. These authors looked through the literature and summed up current thinking on the issue.

The research makes it clear that a backpack or book bag weighing more than 15 to 20 percent of a child's weight is related to back pain. Wearing or loading the backpacks or bags incorrectly only adds to the problem. And it is known that kids with back pain are more likely to have back pain as adults.

Here are some highlights the authors found in the research:

  • Between 11 and 50 percent of children of different age groups reported having back pain in different studies. High school students often complain of neck and shoulder pain.
  • Studies from different countries found that up to half of kids carry backpacks that are over 10 percent of their body weight.
  • The different studies found that risk factors for back pain during adolescence include being female, poor general health, participation in competitive sports, heavier backpack weights, time spent carrying backpacks, and time spent sitting, among other factors.
  • Walking with a heavy backpack makes people lean forward and raise their heads.
  • One study suggested that adolescents should load their backpacks with the heaviest weight down at the waist. However, the best way to load backpacks depends to some extent on the person's height.
  • Carrying a backpack by only one strap causes improper positions in the back. One study found that 75 percent of kids carried their backpacks by one strap.
  • Backpacks with good back support, good fit, and wide shoulder and waist straps that fit well help limit discomfort.

    The authors point out that no evidence connects heavy backpacks to potentially serious spinal deformities such as scoliosis.

    • Reference: 

    William G. Mackenzie, MD, et al. Backpacks in Children. In Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. April 2003. Vol. 409. Pp. 78-84.

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