Schoolchildren's Musculoskeletal Pain and Backpack Weight Impact on Posture: A Short-Term Study

Research indicates heavy backpacks can cause students to adjust their posture, potentially harming their spine and shoulders. This study focuses on musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren in Bangalore, attributed to backpack weight, and examines postural impacts in both urban and rural settings. With...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pharmacy & bioallied science 2024-07, Vol.16 (Suppl 3), p.S2497-S2499
Main Authors: Ahmed, Nishath Anjum, Ahmed, Mohammed Musheer, Ahmed, Nida Anjum, Shahid, Afreen, Mittal, Gaurav
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
backpack weight
Backpacks
Body weight
impact on posture
musculoskeletal pain
Original Research
Pain
Posture
schoolchildren
Schools
Students
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Summary:Research indicates heavy backpacks can cause students to adjust their posture, potentially harming their spine and shoulders. This study focuses on musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren in Bangalore, attributed to backpack weight, and examines postural impacts in both urban and rural settings. With consent, 500 students from various schools underwent physical measurements, including backpack weight, and provided data through questionnaires. Postural angles were assessed without backpacks to determine the impact of weight. On average, students carried backpacks weighing 6.53 kg, about 13.53% of their body weight. Pain was reported by 50.9% of boys and 63.9% of girls, with a higher incidence among girls from private schools (88.2%) compared to boys from government schools (51.6%). A significant link was found between heavier backpacks and decreased craniovertebral angle, head on neck (HON), and head and neck on trunk (HNOT) angles, aligning with increased pain prevalence. This underscores the health risks of heavy school backpacks and the need for weight management.
ISSN:0976-4879
0975-7406
DOI:10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_339_24