School Bag Weight Threatens Children's Back and Spine Health

Prof. Dr. Yalçın Turhan's warnings are as follows: "The weight of the school bags that children carry every day can negatively affect their back and spine health. As the bag gets heavier and the carrying time gets longer, this mechanical load can also increase. Current studies show that pain complaints can be seen more frequently, especially with loads exceeding 15 percent of the body weight. We can practically tell families to calculate the weight of the bag they use so that it does not exceed 10 percent of the child's weight. For example, for a child weighing 30 kilograms, ideally it is about 3 kilograms." We need to know that we can go up to 4.5 kilos in special cases, so it is better not to exceed 15 percent.

The bag should be carried close to the body using two shoulder straps together. When carried on one shoulder, the load may become asymmetrical and the child may lean his or her body sideways to compensate. This can increase the load on the shoulder and back muscles. Bags with waist or chest straps can also be helpful, especially for children who need to carry bags for long periods of time. Wheeled school bags are not a good alternative to our backpacks. Because the child needs to carry this bag with one hand and sometimes needs to go up and down the pavement or use the stairs on school roads, it can be quite difficult to use in such situations. That's why it's not an alternative we like.”