Back pain in children and adolescents: is the schoolbag a risk factor?

Abstract

Non-specific back pain in children and adolescents is multifactorial and its prevalence is increasing. Schoolbags have been traditionally linked to back pain; and clinicians are frequently asked for advice regarding schoolbag use and specifically regarding its weight. Currently, there are various recommendations on the schoolbag use, such as the ‘ideal’ weight of a schoolbag to be within 10%-15% of the child’s body weight, and the correct bag size, type, handling and wear. Conversely, numerous recent studies found no association between schoolbag characteristics including weight, design and carriage method and increased risk of developing back pain in the paediatric population.
The aim of this mini-review is to discuss back pain in children and adolescents and summarize recent evidence on the association between schoolbags and back pain. Overall, there is a lack of convincing evidence in the current literature regarding the association between back pain and carrying a schoolbag, and more research is needed to elucidate any possible association and risk factors.