How heavy school rucksacks can lead to adult back pain

CHILDREN are putting themselves at serious risk of adult back pain because of the heavy rucksacks they routinely carry around.

The bags – stuffed full of school books, gym kit and handheld devices – put so much pressure on their spine, pelvis and hips that they are likely to suffer in adulthood.

A study found that youngsters lug around a sixth of their bodyweight on average during a typical school day and follows warnings from the British Chiropractic Association on the ‘snail effect’ of children who carry their whole lives on their back.

Researchers from the University of Granada in Spain found that 43 per cent of children who use rucksacks suffer back pain.

They examined 78 children aged six to 12 for several weeks in a biomechanics laboratory with a backpack or trolley loaded with the books and school material they carry on a daily basis.

It was found they carry an average of a sixth, or 17 per cent of their bodyweight, with almost half bearing more than is considered safe. Using 3D motion capture software, the researchers recorded movement using reflective markers on areas of the body including the knees, shoulders and spine.

Carrying a rucksack was found to increase trunk flexion, or bending of the back, which puts pressure on the discs between the 24 vertebrae in the spinal column that are essential for free movement. The straps also produced discomfort in children’s backs and necks.

Lead author Eva OrantesGonzalez said: ‘We found some alarming data, as 23 per cent of the girls are carrying in their backpack or trolley a load above 20 per cent of their body weight – well above what is recommended.

‘Carrying a backpack produced a increase of trunk flexion, parameters that were correlated with an increase of pressure in the intervertebral discs of the spine. Suffering back pain while you are a child increases the probability that as an adult you will continue with this back pain.’

In the study, published in the journal Gait and Posture, 97 per cent of backpack users said their bag was almost always heavy, with more than 85 per cent often feeling tired carrying one. It concludes that pulling a trolley, which is popular in southern Europe, could be safer for children.

Tim Hutchful, a chiropractor at the British Chiropractic Association said: ‘We recommend a backpack over other styles of bags as it allows the weight of the bag’s contents to be distributed evenly across both shoulders, so the spine is not pulled out of line.

‘However, the problem with backpacks is that they are often very large, with a lot of room, which can easily be filled with too many items. We call this the “snail effect”, as children carry their whole lives on their back – but the weight of a heavy backpack causes a child to lean forward to compensate for the backward pull. The posture is compromised as the neck is extended, and pressure is put on the hips and lower back.’