Contrary to popular belief, heavy school bags are not responsible for long-term spinal damage in children, according to spine specialists.
Dr Parthasarathy Srinivasan, senior consultant in Orthopaedics at Rela Hospital, Chennai, India, told HT Lifestyle that parents often worry unnecessarily about posture and backpack weight. “Posture is influenced by context, confidence, muscle strength, and fatigue — not just habit,” he explained.
Children naturally slouch in relaxed settings but sit upright in formal situations, he added.
Dr Srinivasan emphasized that slouching or carrying heavy school bags does not cause spinal deformities. “The body adapts to physical loads. Normal children can carry school bags without lasting harm,” he said, adding there is no single correct way to carry them.
However, he warned that persistent back pain in children should not be ignored. While rare, such pain may signal serious underlying issues like infection, injury, disc problems, or even tumors. In some cases, psychological stress or anxiety may manifest as physical pain, including backaches and headaches.
The rise in exam stress, social media pressure, and mental health issues makes it essential to monitor children’s overall well-being, Dr Srinivasan said.
He urged parents to watch for “red flags” — symptoms such as fever, weight loss, numbness, limb weakness, bladder or bowel issues, or severe pain lasting beyond a few days — which warrant immediate specialist attention.
Spinal deformities like scoliosis or kyphosis, he clarified, are not caused by posture or school bags. These conditions are usually genetic, congenital, or syndrome-related, and require medical evaluation. “While such diagnoses are rare, early consultation is crucial,” he said.
Doctors recommend that parents stay alert to their children’s complaints and seek expert advice rather than panic. Misconceptions about backpacks and posture can distract from recognizing real medical concerns in time.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
