Back To School and Your Backpack: Safety Advice for Your Child's Back

The first day of school can be a wonderful experience for many children as they prepare to begin a journey into adulthood.

Many parents will provide their child with a backpack to carry his or her materials to and from school. However, there are certain safety precautions that should be considered when carrying such an item. Previous findings have shown that not only can a heavy backpack cause neck and shoulder strain, but it can create poor posture and contribute to life-long back problems over time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that a child's backpack never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of his or her body weight. It should also have wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back to help evenly distribute all materials in the bag across his or her back. Unfortunately, some may not always take these guidelines so seriously--especially children. 

A 2012 study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood examined the back health of 1,403 children between ages 12 to 17 in Spain who regularly carried backpacks. Findings revealed that more than 60 percent were carrying packs that weight more than 10 percent of their body weight, with nearly one in five schoolbags weighing more than 15 percent of their entire body weight.

In rare cases, heavy backpack loads can even offset the curvature of the spine, according to health officials. 

Many health officials recommend that students opt for a rolling backpack, assuming it is allowed by the school. This takes the heavy pressure off the back and allows it to be placed more evenly on the arms. However, carrying this type of bag up the stairs presents another problem. 

As more mobile tablets become available, many tech-savvy schools and teachers may opt for digital textbooks that could also help to ease the backpack burden.

For more back to school safety tips, visit the AAP's website.