If a child carries a heavy bag that is not suited to their age and weight on one shoulder every day, walks bent forward, and moves around with this load for long periods — the spine is loaded on one side, the balance between the muscles is disrupted, and over time the risk of scoliosis increases.
1In children who are still growing in particular, this load
- Asymmetry of the shoulders
- Low back and upper back pain
- Postural disorder
2What should you do?
- The bag should weigh no more than 10–15% of the child's body weight
- It should be carried on both shoulders
- A child's posture should be checked regularly
- A specialist assessment at an early stage is very important
Scoliosis often begins with everyday habits — carrying a bag on the same side, poor posture and muscle imbalance. We assess this process not merely as a “curved back,” but as a loss of balance across the whole body.
We look not at where the pain is, but at where it comes from.
— Dr. Elfana Suleymanova, Center Director · Internist and osteopathic physician
Related conditions
Methods we use for this topic
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Sources and further reading
- Baby development — NHS (Böyük Britaniya)
- NHS Start for Life — guide for ages 0–5 — NHS (Böyük Britaniya)