According to Backpack Safety America (BSA), medical experts agree that as a general rule, children should not carry more than 15 to 20 percent of their body weight in their backpacks.
Back Pack Injuries
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 4,928 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to backpacks and book bags. Consistent hauling is guilty of not only causing acute injury, but also contributing to long-term damage. How exactly does carrying a backpack affect the spine?
"Common sense tells us that a heavy load, distributed improperly or unevenly, day after day, is indeed going to cause stress to a growing spinal column," explains Dr. Marvin T. Arnsdorff, chiropractor and co-founder of the BSA school education program. "The old adage 'as the twig is bent, so grows the tree' comes to mind. We are seeing a growing concern about the improper use of backpacks and the relatively scarce amount of educational and preventive information available to young people."
Barbe
TAUSA
