Is it possible that homework is hazardous to your child’s health? If it means bringing home a heavy overloaded backpack, the answer may be ‘yes.” According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body's strongest muscles.

However, a backpack that’s too heavy can cause muscle and joint pain, and lead to curvature of the spine. The organization suggests that a loaded backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's total weight. Consumer Reports recommends staying closer to 10 percent. A report from an orthopedic surgeon at Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis says about 15 percent of children miss school or sports activities because of pain caused by heavy backpacks.

Girls between the ages of 11 and 16 are at higher risk due to a rapid growth spurt in this age range, making the spine more susceptible to back pain. To prevent injury, choose a backpack with padded shoulder straps to soften the load. Encourage your child to use both straps for proper weight distribution, and adjust the straps so the backpack fits close to the body, and organize contents by packing heaviest items closest to the center of the back.