A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Effects of Schoolbag Weight and Musculoskeletal Health Problems in Primary School Students of Kolhapur

Authors

  • Rachhanaa S Pawaskar D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
  • Snehdeep S Patil D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
  • Ruchika Patel D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
  • Puneet Kaur Dhaliwal D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
  • Anjali V Wagh D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur

Keywords:

School children, Primary School, Body weight, Schoolbag weight, musculoskeletal health

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain in school children is becoming new topic of health concern. Government recommendation of safe load limit of schoolbag is 10% of body weight. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal health problems in primary school students of Kolhapur.

Methodology: This school based cross sectional study included 886 primary students (age 6-10 years). Institutional Ethical Com- mittee Consent, consent from School Authorities and parents was taken before conducting the study. Author-assisted questionnaire and a digital weighing scale were used as tools of assessment. Analysis was done using SPSS software and results were consid- ered significant when p < 0.05.

Results: Of the 886 primary school students, 82.7% (n=826) carried schoolbags >10% body weight. 64% (n= 567) complained of mus- culoskeletal discomfort related to carrying their schoolbag.

Conclusions: Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in students from English medium schools and Marathi medium schools was 77.4% & 36.9% respectively; prevalence of musculoskeletal symp- toms is higher in CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Educa- tion)pattern schools (73%)than in SSC (Secondary School Certifi- cate) pattern schools (55%). The study provides practically feasible solutions to tackle the mus- culoskeletal health problems in primary school students and em- phasizes on securing ‘the health’ in a healthy childhood.

References

Government Resolution of Government of Maharashtra. 1814/Circular165/S.D.4. Available at: https://www.maha rashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/Government%20Resolutions/ Marathi/201511051737086221.pdf Accessed on 25.09.2015.

Wilmarth M. Dangerous effects of students' backpacks. Available at:http://souri67.blogfa.com/page/mas13.aspx Accessed 27.09.2016

Forjuoh SN, Schuchmann JA, Lane BL. Correlates of heavy backpack use by elementary school children. PublicHealth. 2004; 118:532–535.

Pascoe DD, Pascoe DE, Wang YT et al. Influence of carrying book bags on gait cycle and posture of youths. Ergonomics. 1997; 40:631– 641.

Avantika Rai, Shalini Agarawal. Back Problems Due To Heavy Backpacks in School Children IOSR Journal Of Hu- manities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) 2013; 10: 22-26

Ibrahim AH. Incidence of back pain in Egyptian school girls: effect of school-bag-weight and carrying way. World Appl.Sci. J. 2012; 17 (11): 1526-1534.

Dianat I, JavadivalaZ,Allahverdipour H. school-bag-weight and the occurrence of shoulder, hand/wrist and low back symptoms among Iranian elementary schoolchildren. Health Promotion Perspectives 2011; 1 (1): 76-85.

Hadeel Fadhil Farhood Low back pain in schoolchildren: the role of school bag weight and carrying way. Journal of Natural Sciences Research 2013; 3: 156-164

Mackenzie, W. G., Sampath, J. S., Kruse, et al. Backpacks in Children. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2003; 409:78–84.

Haselgrove C, Straker L, Smith A et al. Perceived schoolbag load, duration of carriage, and method of transport to school are associated with spinal pain in adolescents: an Observational study. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 2008; 54: 193-200.

Lai ES, Chow DK, Tsang VN, et al.: Effect of load carriage on chronic low back pain in adults with cerebral palsy. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2011, 35:439–444.

Al-Khabbaz YS, Shimada T, Hasegawa M. The effect of backpack heaviness on trunk-lower extremity muscle activi- ties and trunk posture. Gait Posture. 2008, 28: 297–302.

Kyung Kim, Chang Ju Kim, Duck -Won Oh. Effect of back- pack position on foot weight distribution of school-aged children J. Phys. Ther. Sci 2015; 27: 747–749.

Kellis E, Emmanouilidou, M. The effects of age and gender on the weight and use of schoolbags. PediatrPhysTher 2010;22:17–25.

Janakiraman Balamurugan. School Bags and Musculoskele- tal Pain Among Elementary School Children In Chennai City. International journal of medical science and clinical Invention. 2014; 1 (6): 302-309.

M Ramprasad, Jeba Alias, Ak Raghuveer. Effect of backpack weight on postural angles in preadolescent children. Indian Pediatrics. 2010; 47: 575-580.

Brackley, H. M., Stevenson, J. M. Stevenson, Selinger J.C., Effect of backpack load placement on posture and spinal curvature in prepubescent children. Work. 2009; 32:351-360.

Mayank M, Upendar S, Nishat Q. Effect of backpack load- ing on cervical and shoulder posture in Indian school chil- dren. Indian J Physiotherapy Occupational Therapy. 2006; 1: 3-12.

Negrini S Carabolona R and Sibilla P. Backpack as a daily load for schoolchildren. The Lancet. 1999; 354 (9194): 1974.

Downloads

Published

2018-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Pawaskar RS, Patil SS, Patel R, Dhaliwal PK, Wagh AV. A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Effects of Schoolbag Weight and Musculoskeletal Health Problems in Primary School Students of Kolhapur. Natl J Community Med [Internet]. 2018 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 Apr. 20];9(12):879-83. Available from: https://www.njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/837

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 12 (2018)

Section

Original Research Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The authors retain the copyright of their article, with first publication rights granted to Medsci Publications.