PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN DUE TO TRADITIONAL HEAVY BACKPACKS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Bag packs, Heavy, Jamshoro, Musculoskeletal pain, School going children
Abstract
Background
An increasingly serious issue of significant concern revolves around the rising prevalence of
musculoskeletal pain among school-going students, stemming from the burden of carrying backpacks.
Objective
The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among
elementary school children due to traditional heavy backpacks
Material and methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 students by using a non-probability convenient
sampling technique. Students with acquired physical disabilities or recent surgeries were excluded.
Data collection involved questionnaires and measurements of backpack weight. Statistical analysis
was performed using SPSS version 23.
Results
The study highlighted that most of the participants were 13 years old, and carried school bags within
the recommended weight range. Moderate pain was prevalent among participants, with bilateral
shoulder pain being the most common, followed by mid-thoracic back pain. Many cases reported
experiencing pain in multiple body areas, particularly bilateral shoulder pain and mid-thoracic back
pain.
Conclusion
This study examines musculoskeletal discomfort in elementary students, with a focus on
musculoskeletal pain from heavy backpacks. The study suggests a strong link between carrying
backpacks over10% of body weight and increased musculoskeletal discomfort.
References
http://doi:10.1177/2049463717695144. Epub 2017 Feb 1. PMID: 28491300; PMCID: PMC5405972.
2. Mansoorian M, Ghasemi MS, Forough B, Dehghan N. Evaluating the impact of a new ergonomic backpack designed on foot plantar pressure and perceived comfort by its users. Iran Occupational Health. 2018 Oct 10;15(5):59-68.
3. Zakeri Y, Baraz S, Gheibizadeh M, Saidkhani V. Relationship between backpack weight and prevalence of lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis and dropped shoulders in elementary students. International journal of pediatrics. 2016 Jun 1;4(6):1859-66.
4. Kalhori RP, Ziapour A, Kianipour N, Foroughinia A. A study of the relationship between lifestyle and happiness of students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences over 2015–2016. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2017 Jul 1;10(4):1004-9.
5. Suri C, Shojaei I, Bazrgari B. Effects of school backpacks on spine biomechanics during daily activities: a narrative review of the literature. Human factors. 2020 Sep;62(6):909-18. http://doi:10.1177/0018720819858792. Epub 2019 Jul 12. PMID: 31298940.
6. Assiri A, Mahfouz AA, Awadalla NJ, Abolyazid AY, Shalaby M. Back pain and schoolbags among adolescents in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020 Jan;17(1):5. http://doi:10.3390/ijerph17010005. PMID: 31861301; PMCID: PMC6981712.
7. Aprile I, Di Stasio E, Vincenzi MT, Arezzo MF, De Santis F, Mosca R, Briani C, Di Sipio E, Germanotta M, Padua L. The relationship between back pain and schoolbag use: a cross-sectional study of 5,318 Italian students. The Spine Journal. 2016 Jun 1;16(6):748-55. http://doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2016.01.214. Epub 2016 Feb 12. PMID: 26882858.
8. Lopez Hernandez T, Caparo Ferre M, Gine Marti S, Salvat Salvat I. Relationship between school backpacks and musculoskeletal pain in children 8 to 10 years of age: an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020 Apr;17(7):2487. http://doi:10.3390/ijerph17072487. PMID: 32260533; PMCID: PMC7177975.
9. Zakeri Y, Baraz S, Gheibizadeh M, Saidkhani V. Relationship between backpack weight and prevalence of lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis and dropped shoulders in elementary students. International journal of pediatrics. 2016 Jun 1;4(6):1859-66.
10. Brzęk A, Dworrak T, Strauss M, Sanchis-Gomar F, Sabbah I, Dworrak B, Leischik R. The weight of pupils’ schoolbags in early school age and its influence on body posture. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2017 Dec;18:1-1. http://doi:10.1186/s12891-017-1462-z. PMID: 28320364; PMCID: PMC5359953
11. Chalise GD, Sherpa S, Bharati M, Ambu KC. Parental awareness about school backpacks, weight carried by their children, and related musculoskeletal problems. Medical Journal of Shree Birendra Hospital. 2020 Jun 26;19(2):97-102.
12. Akbar F, AlBesharah M, Al-Baghli J, Bulbul F, Mohammad D, Qadoura B, Al-Taiar A. Prevalence of low Back pain among adolescents about the weight of school bags. BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2019 Dec;20:1-9. http://doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2398-2. PMID: 30670005; PMCID: PMC6343268.
13. Al-Saleem SA, Ali A, Ali SI, Alshamrani AA, Almulhem AM, Al-Hashem MH. A study of school bag weight and back pain among primary school children in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Epidemiology (Sunnyvale, Calif.). 2016 Feb;6(1). http://doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2398-2. PMID: 30670005; PMCID: PMC6343268.
14. Mirza H, Arif M. Heavy backpacks & backache in school going children. JPMA. 2020 Mar 28;2020. PMID: 32794476.
15. Hadžiomerović AM, Jaganjac A, Avdic D, Pašalić A, Kaljić E, Domljan D, Omerović E. School bags and associated back pain. Journal of Health Sciences. 2018 Apr 2;8(1):10-9.
16. Rai A, Agarwal S, Bharti S, Ambedakar BB. Postural effect of backpacks on school children: its consequences on their body posture. Int J Health Sci Res. 2013;3(10):109-6.
17. Sundas R, Ghous M, Sehar S. Association of backpack loads and wearing time with musculoskeletal disorders in school children of Wah Cant Pakistan: Correlational study. International Journal of Clinical and Medical Education Research. 2022 Jul 1;1(1):1-6.
18. Shahid G, Aziz K, Arif A, Fahim MF. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain due to heavy backpacks in school-going children of Karachi. Int J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;6(3):2.
19. Chowdhury MH, Karim R, Barbhuiya AM, Rahman H. Prevalence of Physical Stress on the School Going Students about Their Body Weight and Heavy Backpack.
20. De Vitta A, de Oliveira Perrucini P, Bento TP, Cornélio GP, Felippe LA, Simeão SF. Factors associated with intensity and frequent low back pain in high school students. ABCS Health Sciences. 2021 Nov 8;46:e021223-. http://doi:10.1016/j.amjms.2016.10.012. Epub 2016 Nov 2. PMID: 28183408.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Dr Ghazala Langah
Lecturer, Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Dr Bushra Jamil
Physiotherapist, Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Dr Arhama Samad
Physiotherapist, Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Dr Zain Ul Abdin
Physiotherapist, Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Dr Manisha Kumari
Physiotherapist, Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Dr Mamoona
Physiotherapist, Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan