The aim of this investigation is to assess modifications in sway parameters introduced by backpack carriage in Italian primary school children (6–10 years old, n ¼ 447). Two 30-s trials (without and with backpack) were performed directly at a school on a regular school day to collect data on sway area, centre of pressure path length and maximum displacement range in antero–posterior and medio–lateral directions. The results show a significant load-induced increase in all sway parameters and the existence of a linear relationship between sway area and backpack weight. Since postural sway represents an effective indicator of balance abilities, the alterations observed suggest that backpack