There is a widespread concern that a school backpack that is too heavy can lead to a curvature of the child’s spine. On the day when the country's schoolchildren go to school after the summer holidays, we decided to check whether such parental fears are justified.

Information that a heavy backpack can cause scoliosis is found both in regional, and in the federal media (for example, the article “RIA Novosti""The right backpack and physical education: how to protect a schoolchild from scoliosis"). Fears regarding backpacks share and themselves parents on the forums. These fears are actively exploit And manufacturers backpacks, offering own designs, which allegedly will be able protect schoolchildren from the development of this disease.

Scoliosis called one of the types of spinal deformity. It comes with one arc of curvature, then it called C-shaped, with two - S-shaped, with three - Z-shaped. Causes of scoliosis divide into three types: congenital, acquired and resulting from injury or other diseases. By statistics, 2% to 4% of children aged 10–16 years have this disease. And although girls and boys are equally susceptible to scoliosis, severe forms, requiring wearing a corset and even surgical intervention, are more common in girls.

At the same time, the concepts of “scoliosis” and “spinal curvature” are not synonymous - with scoliosis, the spine is curved in three directions at once. Also exist conditions such as kyphosis (curvature of the spine that convexes backward) or lordosis (curvature of the spine that convexes forward). Pathologies can also be combined, then the doctor diagnoses kyphoscoliosis or lordoscoliosis.

Severe forms of scoliosis are usually visible even to a layman. One shoulder becomes higher than the other, one shoulder blade protrudes more than the other, one hip appears higher than the other. To clarify the diagnosis and choose treatment tactics, x-rays are usually prescribed. Scoliosis dangerous because, in addition to back pain and an unaesthetic appearance, it can cause breathing problems, since a curved chest prevents the lungs from working at full capacity.

Let's look at the causes of scoliosis. As the name implies, congenital scoliosis is a pathology that appears immediately at birth. The child was not wearing any heavy backpack at that time. The causes of the pathology are intrauterine development disorders and genetic diseases. In particular, scoliosis often accompanies diseases such as Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, spina bifida.

Post-traumatic scoliosis Maybe develop at any age. As the name suggests, this pathology occurs after an injury, most often a spinal fracture. Therefore, it has nothing to do with backpacks.

The third type of scoliosis is acquired, it is also called idiopathic. This is the most common type of disease, it is diagnosed in 80% of patients. "Idiopathic" in the title meansthat the cause of its occurrence is unknown. Most likely, it was the unknown cause that gave rise to the myth that scoliosis can arise from a heavy backpack or, for example, incorrect posture and insufficient physical activity. However, none of these factors are listed in the list of causes of scoliosis on such authoritative resources as the website of one of the largest medical and research centers in the world "Mayo Clinic", as well as sites National Health Service UK And UK Scoliosis Association. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons on its website also is considering The question is whether a backpack can cause scoliosis. Experts are clear that there is no connection between backpacks and scoliosis.

The backpack is too heavy Maybe cause back and lower back pain. According to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the weight of a backpack should be no more than 15% of a student’s weight. Similar norms exists in Russia, Rospotrebnadzor advises adhering to the following standards:

for students in grades 1–2 - no more than 1.5 kg;
3-4 classes - no more than 2 kg;
5th–6th grades - no more than 2.5 kg;
7th–8th grades – no more than 3.5 kg;
9–11th grades - no more than 4 kg.

There is also a common belief that carrying a backpack on one shoulder will aggravate back or lower back pain. However, there is some scientific evidence that refutes this. Greek doctors observed for 3441 students aged 9 to 15 years. Children reported back and lower back pain after wearing the backpack. Scientists found no correlation between the level of pain, as well as the frequency of its occurrence, and the manner in which the backpack was worn - on one shoulder or on both.

Eat Also separate observations indicating that idiopathic scoliosis may be caused by a specific set of genes. So, meta-analysis 50 studies of genes believed to be associated with this disease have identified 34 candidate genes, but a final understanding of how genetics influences this spinal curvature is still a long way off.

Thus, a school backpack, even a heavy one, according to modern science, cannot cause scoliosis. However, you should still adhere to weight standards, since a backpack that is too overloaded can cause pain in the back and lower back.

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