Research carried out in Spain has found that school children who carry rucksacks with too many textbooks and school-related items are running the risk of suffering from back pain in later life.
A total of 1,403 children were analysed in the study which found that school children are carrying an average of 15-20% of their body weight in bags, even though it is recommended that no more than 10% of a person's body weight should be carried.
The Archives of Disease in Childhood report discovered that six out of 10 people carried a bag which weighed over 10%, with one in five wearing a bag that exceeded 15% of their body weight. This then results in one in four people reporting back-related conditions.
Those exceeding the limit are most likely to suffer from conditions such as scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, followed by lower back pain and involuntary muscle contractions.
Co-author of the study Prof Alberto Ruano, of the University of Santiago de Compostel, in Spain says:
"Many children transport excessively loaded backpacks, an excess which would not be allowed for workers in employment. We strongly encourage the medical and educational community to start advising parents and school children about the risks posed by heavy school bags and the fact that this risk can be easily reduced."
It is highly recommended that parents assist their children in picking out school bags and retro bags to avoid such problems. They should also keep their eyes peeled and watch that their kids never overload their bags with items.
