Are heavy backpacks bad for kids?

Although it might not be quite so heavy, some kids actually do carry around a lot of weight in their backpacks. These heavy loads place stress on the spine and shoulders of children, causing muscle strain and fatigue. For some kids the aches and pains are bad enough to seek medical attention.



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No matter how well-designed the backpack, less weight is always better. Use the bathroom scale to check that a pack isn't over 10% to 20% of your body weight (for example, if you weigh 120 pounds you shouldn't carry a backpack that weighs more than 12 to 24 pounds).

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As children do not carry their backpacks for the entire day, thankfully, it does not or minimally affects their growth. While weighty backpacks may cause hunchback or spinal curvature, it should not result in permanent spinal deformities or scoliosis unless the child already had these as pre-existing conditions.

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Pain caused from excessive loads has gained the term “backpack syndrome.” Backpack syndrome causes headaches, neck and back pain, and fatigue. There have been studies examining the effects of carrying backpacks on one shoulder versus both shoulders. Carrying a bag on one shoulder causes significant asymmetries.

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How much is too much? A 50-pound child should carry a maximum of 7.5 pounds. A 100-pound child should carry a maximum of 15 pounds. A 150-pound child should carry a maximum of 22.5 pounds.

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Your chiropractor knows this can result in poor posture and a misaligned spine. The longer a child carries the extra weight he or she may have pain, muscle stiffness, and problems with flexibility and range of motion. Backpack wearing can significantly increase the child's potential for injury.

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Carrying heavy bags daily, like school or laptop bags, can lead to various medical issues. It can strain your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, potentially causing back, shoulder, and neck pain. Over time, this strain might contribute to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems.

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Textbooks and school supplies, plus gym gear, electronic devices, lunches and more contribute to overloaded backpacks. In fact, about 70 percent of kids carry heavier-than-recommended backpacks, researchers reported a few years ago in the journal Applied Ergonomics.

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Walking, hiking or running with a weighted backpack is known as rucking. It's a tough workout that can help you build endurance while also gaining muscle, said Michael O'Dowd, tactical expert for the fitness brand Ten Thousand with nine years of experience as a SEAL.

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Doctors and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10% to 20% of their body weight in their packs. But many carry a lot more than that. The weight can pull a child backward, making them bend forward at the hips or arch the back to stay steady.

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What is one effect of an overloaded backpack? However, carrying an overloaded backpack or wearing one improperly can lead to poor posture, stress on the soft tissue in your neck and back, and unnecessary strain on muscles and joints.

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BPP typically presents with paresis, numbness, and paresthesias of the upper extremity after carrying a heavy backpack. The painless motor weakness most severely affects the shoulder girdle and elbow flexors.

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These heavy loads place stress on the spine and shoulders of children, causing muscle strain and fatigue. For some kids the aches and pains are bad enough to seek medical attention. Too much weight can also lead to bad habits such as poor posture and excessive slouching.

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