Backpack-back pain complexity and the need for multifactorial safe weight recommendation (original) (raw)
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As they grow, children go through different phases of growth and development, and very often due to various unspecified outside influences, they are overloaded with weight. Heavy backpacks and its correlation to different types of bad posture, as well as pain in particular parts of the back, has been an important issue in the past several years. The aim of this research was to determine average backpack weight in correlation to children's weight in primary school. Also, the aim was to determine if there were some differences between pupils of the first, second, third, and fourth grade of primary school. Further on, it aimed at answering the question whether there was some correlation between the already determined relative backpack weight and the mentioned pain intensity while carrying the backpack. The research was conducted on a sample of 252 primary school pupils (boys and girls). Body weight and backpack weight were measured, and a short interview was also conducted. The short interview concerned feelings, intensity and pain location while carrying and the way they carry the backpack. The results indicate that the average values of the correlation between the backpack weight and the body weight (%) compared with the maximum allowed limit of 10%, in all grades, are in average (16.72%) over the limit, resulting with the maximum rate of 29.17% in grade 1. Out of the total number of pupils, 93.1% responded that they carry the backpack on both shoulders. Out of the whole sample, 87 (31.4%) of them said that they feel pain while carrying the backpack. The majority (18.4%) of subjects felt pain in their lower back. The youngest children in this sample, more precisely, those in grade 1, felt the most pain of high intensity, which is probably due to the fact that their backpack, compared to their body weight, was too heavy.
Heavy schoolbag weight has been identified as one of the risk factors that influenced the health of young children. Considering the increased and improved syllabus in the primary schools in Malaysia, the risk of heavy schoolbag weight and its impact on the musculoskeletal health of children needs to be identified. This study was performed to determine the association between schoolbag weight and perceived load with back pain among schoolchildren. This was a cross-sectional study performed among 114 primary schoolchildren in two schools at Selangor, Malaysia in 2015. Background information and perceived load was obtained via self-administered questionnaires from both parents and schoolchildren. Data on height, body weight and schoolbag weight were objectively measured. Data obtained were entered into statistical software for analysis. The average schoolbag weight and relative schoolbag weight were 5.98 kg and 19.7% respectively. The prevalence of back pain was 36.8% and more than one-third of the respondent perceived load as heavy and cause fatigue. Significant associations were found between relative weight and perceived load (heaviness and fatigue) with back pain. Findings of this study suggest that schoolbag weight pose musculoskeletal health risk to schoolchildren. Therefore, there is a need for implementation of policy and guideline as well as intervention in minimising schoolbag weight.
Back pain arising from schoolbag usage among primary schoolchildren
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2014
This study employed multifactorial variables to determine the effect of schoolbag weight on the occurrence of back pain among primary schoolchildren and also determined the reliability and factorability of their survey responses. A total of 615 prepubescent children aged between 7 and 12 years with a boy to girl ratio of 2:3 participated in the study. Of these children, 205 were also selected for a testeretest to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The kappa coefficient was used to analyze dichotomous and nominal variables, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for the categorical variables. Correlation techniques were also used to investigate backpack-induced back pain problems. The testeretest revealed that dichotomous and demographic (k ¼ 0.7e1.0), psychosocial perception of pain (ICC ¼ 0.6e0.72) and backpack culture (ICC ¼ 0.6e0.78) variables all demonstrated good and high reliability. Variables associated with multiple responses, however, recorded low reliability value. The exploratory factor analysis also reveals six factors, of which only psychosocial perception of pain, individual rating ability and backpack culture accounted for more than 70% of the variance explained during the analysis. Both the subjective and objective variables revealed the significant effect of the children's heavy bag on their degree of feeling back pain (F(2,612) ¼ 3.72, p ¼ 0.02), neck inclination (F(2,166.15) ¼ 54.8, p < 0.0001), back inclination (F(2,183.9) ¼ 60.92, p < 0.0001), pulse rate (F(2,155.31) ¼ 4.07, p ¼ 0.019) and saturated oxygen (F(2,152.83) ¼ 5.95, p ¼ 0.003) were significantly associated with the weight of their schoolbags. The significant effect of age was also identified as the measuring variables were all negatively correlated with the children's age. Backpackeback pain intervention and awareness are still needed especially among the younger primary schoolchildren who are at greater risk of back pain from backpack usage. Relevance to industry: This research demonstrated that information about prepubescent children's perception and rating of pain are equally reliable as other objective measuring instruments. Younger children who carry greater loads face greater risk of back pain than older children.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Back pain in children is a reality and various factors are involved in its etiology. The study’s aim was to analyze the relationship between the use and type of backpack and pain in children. An analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 schoolchildren between 8–10 years. Data on the participants’ weight and height and their backpacks were collected, as well as the way of travel to school and their physical activity during the week. The results indicated that all backpacks were large because the backpack’s height is longer than torso length. Participants who studied in a traditional educational system (62.60%) carried backpacks that exceeded 10% of their body weight. Additionally, 31.7% of the students presented pain. There is no significant correlation between the weight or type of backpack and the pressure pain threshold collected from shoulders muscles. Participants who carried backpacks heavier than 10% of their body weight did not have more musculosk...
School bag weight and the occurrence of back pain among elementary school children
Journal of Public Health Research
Background: Children in primary schools use school bags to carry study material, although the heavy bags are often associated with musculoskeletal problems, especially back pain. This practice requires strength, which significantly changes the body posture and walking pattern, subsequently leading to the incidence of back pain as a side effect. The aim of this study, therefore, is to analyze the differences in bag loads between elementary school children in urban and suburban area, and also analyze the relationship with the occurrence of back pain. Design and methods: This was a cross sectional study, which used stratified random sampling to choose 2 elementary schools each representing the urban and suburban areas. Furthermore, a total sample of 164 students were selected, whose school bag weight were measured for 5 consecutive days, particularly in the morning on respondents arrival at school. Moreover, the occurrence of back pain was evaluated using a modified Nordic map, and dat...
Research Paper: The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Relation With Backpack Weight Among Iranian Students Purpose: Several studies have reported that musculoskeletal disorders and discomforts experienced by children and adolescent students are closely related to the weight of bags or backpacks carried by them. Since students are at growth and spinal development age, attention to the pressures on their bodies is important. These pressures can cause musculoskeletal problems and various growth disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Low Back Pain (LBP) and its relation with the backpack weight among students. Methods: This cross-sectional study with non-experimental design was conducted on 2000 elementary and secondary school students (1000 boys and 1000 girls) who were randomly selected from schools in 5 regions of Tehran City, Iran. Students with LBP for more than 6 weeks during the study or during the last 3 years at 3 intervals that each lasted for 1 week or more were listed in a group with LBP and others in a group with no LBP (the control group). The weight of their bags or backpacks was measured over a week, and the average was recorded as the weight of carrying load. The intensity of pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale. To examine the prevalence of LBP in students, absolute and relative frequency distribution tests, and for examining the correlation between LBP and weight of backpacks, Independent t test were employed. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the weight of backpacks and the intensity of pain. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictability of LBP based on the backpack weight. Results: Based on the results, 26% of students had LBP (29.6% girls, and 21.8% boys). Mean±SD scores of LBP in girl and boy students were reported as 3.4±2.8 and 2.3±5.8, respectively. According to t test results, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of backpack weight both in girls and boys (P<0.05). The Pearson correlation test results showed a significant correlation between the weight of backpacks and intensity of LBP among boys (r=0.26, P=0.007) and girls (r=0.31, P<0.001). Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the variable of backpack weight can predict LBP (B=0.52, P=0.01). Conclusion: The weight of the bags or backpacks carried by children and adolescent students has a significant relationship with the prevalence and intensity of LBP in this age group. Citation Raeisi F, Arab AM, Adib Hesami M. The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Relation With Backpack Weight Among Iranian Students. Physical Treatments. 2018; 7(4):193-196. http://dx.
The Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Its Relation With Backpack Weight Among Iranian Students
Physical Treatments: Specific Physical Therapy Journal
Purpose: Several studies have reported that musculoskeletal disorders and discomforts experienced by children and adolescent students are closely related to the weight of bags or backpacks carried by them. Since students are at growth and spinal development age, attention to the pressures on their bodies is important. These pressures can cause musculoskeletal problems and various growth disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Low Back Pain (LBP) and its relation with the backpack weight among students. Methods: This cross-sectional study with non-experimental design was conducted on 2000 elementary and secondary school students (1000 boys and 1000 girls) who were randomly selected from schools in 5 regions of Tehran City, Iran. Students with LBP for more than 6 weeks during the study or during the last 3 years at 3 intervals that each lasted for 1 week or more were listed in a group with LBP and others in a group with no LBP (the control group). The weight of their bags or backpacks was measured over a week, and the average was recorded as the weight of carrying load. The intensity of pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale. To examine the prevalence of LBP in students, absolute and relative frequency distribution tests, and for examining the correlation between LBP and weight of backpacks, Independent t test were employed. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the weight of backpacks and the intensity of pain. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictability of LBP based on the backpack weight. Results: Based on the results, 26% of students had LBP (29.6% girls, and 21.8% boys). Mean±SD scores of LBP in girl and boy students were reported as 3.4±2.8 and 2.3±5.8, respectively. According to t test results, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of backpack weight both in girls and boys (P<0.05). The Pearson correlation test results showed a significant correlation between the weight of backpacks and intensity of LBP among boys (r=0.26, P=0.007) and girls (r=0.31, P<0.001). Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the variable of backpack weight can predict LBP (B=0.52, P=0.01). Conclusion: The weight of the bags or backpacks carried by children and adolescent students has a significant relationship with the prevalence and intensity of LBP in this age group.
Assessing the Effect of Postural Discomfort on School Going Children Due to Heavy Backpacks
Journal of Ergonomics, 2015
In this era, this is very new concern regarding weight of the children carrying heavy school bag. There are many negative consequences, such as heavy load on the developing spine and discomfort. Backpack leads to the development on back pain and other postural injuries. These problems associated with backpack use and have become increasing concern with school children. In this study 300 children were selected randomly for their personal information and postural discomfort was access through interview schedule along with body discomfort chart. Most of the student reported the occurrence of sharp radiating and pins & needle type pain; neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, leg, knee found sharp pain in male 57.9% while in female 56.6%, whereas in arms, finger, toes, radiating in male 36.6% and in female 39.7% and 41.5%, in male and 45.6% in female pins and needles pain was found in both gender respectively. There was no significant difference of postural discomfort in neck, shoulder, arms, finger, leg, knees and toes but in the upper back and lower back same discomfort found due to heavy backpacks. The result indicated prevalence of postural discomfort high in both gender. Preventive points should be taken while carrying backpacks.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
BACKGROUND: Nowadays, a large number of students experience spinal pain quite early in life due to heavy school bag loads. Moreover, external forces in the form of school bags may influence the normal growth, development of children and adolescents, and also maintenance of alignment of their bodies, which can pose a huge threat to postural integrity under external load. Awareness about the appropriate load and placement of backpack is thought to be important in reducing musculoskeletal complications among children's. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the influence of postural deviations due to backpack load among school children's. Electronic databases were searched, and a reference list of retrieved articles were relevant to postural changes among school children with the backpack were screened. Reviewers graded the papers according to Lloyd-Smith's hierarchy of evidence scale. Papers were quality appraised using a modified Crombie tool. RESULTS: Twelve papers were identified for inclusion in this review. Methodological difference limited our ability to collate evidence. CONCLUSION: Most of the articles recommended that backpack load limit for school children should be 10-15% of body weight. However, the appropriate load limit for school children is limited due to lack of articles, the low hierarchy of evidence, and small sample size. This review constrains the use of published literature to inform good load limit of school pack among the school children.
Influence of school backpacks on spinal column load in primary school students
Periodicals of Engineering and Natural Sciences (PEN), 2019
Background: The problem of heavy school bags is a global problem recognized in many countries in Europe and the world, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to poor posture habits, "sedentary lifestyles" and insufficient physical activity, school bags is one of the main causes of low back pain and deformity in pupils. The recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) is that the weight of the school bag should not exceed 10% of the student's weight. However, in practice these limitations are far from reality with the obvious problems caused by too heavy bags. The aim of the paper is to identify and analyze the backbone load caused by the overweight school backpacks in real school work conditions and eliminate them by creating new solutions that are in line with ergonomic and biomechanical principles, as well as the recommendation given by WHO. Methods: The research included first grade primary school students at the age of seven, including their pare...