Children's Backpacks & Back Pain

It's a subject that's been debated and discussed endlessly.  As children go back to school, concerned parents diligently spend additional money on backpacks with two straps that are designed to spread the weight of the backpack and so reduce neck and back strain.

A recent study by the University of Michigan has thrown all that research and health awareness into disarray with their findings that it is not the heavy backpacks that are causing the problem.

The researchers said that there was no evidence that heavy school bags contributed to low back pain in children.

In fact, the study suggests that how active a child is and what they weigh may have more influence on whether or not they suffer from aches and pains.

Whilst that's good news for the thousands of children who choose to wear their schoolbags slung over one shoulder, it's not such good news for schools and education authorities who have spent a lot of money promoting backpacks with two wide, padded straps.

That being said, it's a fact that many children do suffer from pain in their shoulders, neck and lower back due to carrying heavy loads in their school bags.  Ensuring that they make use of any lockers and store their heavy items, rather than carrying them around during the school day.

Useful Info

Children's & Teenagers Pain Relief & Treatment - how to relieve muscle strains

Backpacks & Backpain Products - specially designed backpack to reduce strain and spread the weight