Is carrying heavy backpack to school causing health problems for your kids? It might if they are carrying more than 10-20% of their body weight in their backpack, especially if they have to walk to school and/or they are carrying their backpack on only one shoulder. 

It is not like carrying a heavy backpack with a lot of school books can cause serious illnesses, like scoliosis. Still, carrying a heavy backpack can be a source of 'chronic, low-level trauma,'and can cause chronic shoulder, neck and back pain in your children.

Does your child complain of back pain?
Does he walk bent over sideways to try to adjust for the heavy load of a backpack?
Does he complain of numbness and tingling in his arms or hands?
Does he carry more than 10-20% of her body weight in his backpack?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you might want to take some steps to minimize the chances that carrying a backpack will cause your child back pain or other health problems, including: 

• limiting the weight your child carries in a backpack to 10-20% of his body weight 
• buying a backpack that has wide, padded shoulder straps and a waste belt 
• avoiding messenger type, single strap bags for your child to carry his school books and supplies 
• encouraging your child to wear his backpack over both shoulders 
• consider using a backpack with wheels 

Back pain is not so common in younger children and may be a sign of a more serious problem. If the problem looks persistent get your child evaluated by your pediatrician.


_{Sources:
Leffert RD - Orthop Clin North Am - 01-Apr-2000; 31(2): 331-45}