Backpacks and Back Pain

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.

• 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.

For more information, read our guide to Backpacks and Back Pain.