THREE PROFOUND CONSEQUENCES CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS CAN HAVE FOR CARRYING HEAVY BACKPACKS

1 – CHANGES TO SPINAL CURVATURE - Students carried on average over 15% of their own body weight, which caused biomechanical and physiological adaptations that could increase musculoskeletal injury risk, fatigue, redness, swelling and discomfort. Considering the limited methodological quality and variations in foci across studies, further research is needed to elucidate: Given the loads being carried by children, whose musculoskeletal systems are still developing [12] and are undergoing rapid physical development [17], it is not surprising that this load carriage has been associated with musculoskeletal injury concerns.

2 – BACK PAIN - With the growing spine vulnerable to physical stresses, and physical stress being a predisposing factor in adolescent spinal pain [17], the supposition that the carrying of a backpack is a contributing risk factor to adolescent low back pain bears merit [15,21]. This supposition is supported by Sheir-Neiss et al. [22], who found that backpack use and backpack weights were independently associated with back pain in adolescent school children. With research in young military recruits suggesting that once someone is injured carrying a load, they are more likely to be injured again [23], any injuries induced by carrying a school backpack should be concerning for all involved and justify the concerns raised by parents, educators, and health care professionals regarding the role of heavy backpacks [1,21].

3 – CHANGES IN WALKING - changes to spinal curvature and repositioning error with backpack posterior and anterior positioning (p < 0.05) (repositioning error is associated with the backpack positioning). Less changes with backpack positioned on T12. Changing backpack from posterior to anterior helps reduce the effects on the spine.

4 – FUTURE KNEE JOINTS PAIN - both loaded and un-loaded sides were affected by asymmetrical backpack carriage. Extra load on lumbar vertebral joints and altered frontal knee biomechanics → increase in back pain and pathologies in the knee joint.

5 – PAIN IN SCHOOL CHILDREN - his study focused on the relationship between school bag carriage and pain in school children. Examined bag type, individual characteristics, the load carried and the pain experience. Type of school bag, the manner it is carried in and the gender of the student all associated with level of ‘Shoulder pain’ (p < 0.001). More females experienced pain.

6 – CHANGES IN POSTURAL ANGLES - is study focused on the relationship between school bag carriage and pain in school children. Examined bag type, individual characteristics, the load carried and the pain experience. Type of school bag, the manner it is carried in and the gender of the student all associated with level of ‘Shoulder pain’ (p < 0.001). More females experienced pai. The heaviest backpack resulted in an increase in back pain. Most students carried loads above 10% BW. Backpacks altered posture and gait, resulting in modifications to the head–neck angles.

2% complained of back pain, but 74% said it was low intensity pain (p < 0.001). Self-reported pain in school children is independently linked to carrying heavy schoolbags