When preparing a school bag, pay attention to this: Place heavy books close to the back.

As the new school year approaches, experts have issued warnings regarding school bags. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Hatice Kübra Aşık noted that heavy bags can lead to health problems such as scoliosis and back pain, and emphasized that when packing the bag, heavier books and notebooks should be placed close to the back.

The 2024-2025 academic year will begin on September 9. Before schools open, important advice has come from experts for the health of children and adolescents. Experts have warned that improper selection and use of backpacks can lead to issues such as postural disorders and back pain. Dr. Hatice Kübra Aşık, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist at Beykent University Hospital, answered questions about how school bags should be for both primary and high school students, how heavy they should be, and how they should be carried.

The right bag should be chosen

Dr. Hatice Kübra Aşık stated, “With the start of the academic year, there are things we need to pay attention to regarding bag use. If not used correctly, incorrect loads on the spine can lead to spinal deformities. Therefore, we should prefer bags that are comfortable, soft, and easy to wear. It is important that our children’s shoulder straps are wide, supportive, and soft.”

Carrying on one shoulder can cause pain

Dr. Aşık warned young people not to wear their backpacks with one strap to look cooler, saying, “Wearing the bag with both straps distributes the weight and protects spinal health. They should pay attention to this. The shoulder straps should be thick, and the bag should sit at waist level. If it sits lower, children can experience back, waist, and spine pain over time. When there are problems related to weight transfer, the load on the spine changes, which can accelerate the child’s predisposition to scoliosis and spinal deformities. What we recommend to the child is to ensure equal weight distribution and not to use excessive weight.”

Proper arrangement of books is also important

Dr. Hatice Kübra Aşık emphasized that not only the weight of the bag matters, but also the proper arrangement of books inside it. She stated, “When placing books in the bag, arranging heavier ones closer to the back and lighter ones farther away distributes the weight properly and prevents the onset of back pain and spinal deformities.”

Choosing shoes is also important

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Hatice Kübra Aşık provided the following important advice regarding how primary school children’s school bags should be:
“Primary school children should not have excessive items. The weight of the backpack should not exceed 10% of the child’s weight and 20% for wheeled bags. It should be adjusted so that it is not larger than the child’s back. In very heavy situations, a wheeled bag can be used. However, in the long run, this can cause the child to struggle and fall when going up and down curbs. If the feet are not comfortable with the weight, postural disorders may occur. Correct posture starts with the feet. Instead of ballet flats or leather types of shoes, orthopedic shoes that fully support the foot should be preferred.”

Dr. Aşık noted that if precautions are not taken, heavy school bags can lead to postural disorders, waist and back pain, knee problems, posture issues, and spinal problems.