28/01/2026
The use of a backpack is essential part of child's schooling, however wearing a backpack incorrectly or having a wrong backpack altogether can strain muscles, joints and may cause back pain.
Children should only be carrying 10-20% of their body weight in their backpack!
With kids being back at school it’s important to remind your child of how to properly carry their backpacks.
What should we look for in a backpack?
- two wide and padded and adjustable shoulder straps – straps that are too thin and narrow tend to dig into the childs shoulders
- a padded back – providing greater comfort while walking and preventing sharp, edgy objects poking the back
-waist strap – spreading the weight evenly throughout the body
- various compartments and pockets – spreading the weight evenly throughout the bag
What not to do –
- make sure your child is not leaning forward to carry the load of their backpack
- neglecting to use the waist strap
- only wearing one shoulder strap at a time
- the backpack should rest evenly in the middle of the back and not sag down to the buttocks
A heavy backpack overtime can cause -
- shoulders, neck and back pain
- changes and poor in posture
- tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands
- headaches
- scoliosis
By applying preventative measures mentioned above and choosing the correct backpack, health risks caused by backpacks can be minimised greatly.
