The weight of schoolbags and the occurrence of neck, shoulder, and back pain in young adolescents.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of 745 young adolescents in the area of two Regional Health Centers in the Netherlands.

Objectives: To assess the occurrence of neck and/or shoulder and back complaints in young adolescents and examine relationships with type and weight of schoolbags and other physical and psychologic risk factors.

Summary Of Background Data: The occurrence of back pain in children and adolescents varies from 8% to 74% in the literature.