PERCEPTION OF USING BACKPACK AND ITS RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISCOMFORTS IN ADOLESCENTS

M. Balaganapathy¹, N.N. Twinkle¹

¹Charotar University of Science & Technology, Ashok & Rita Patel Institute of Physiotherapy, Anand, India

Background: Heavy bag carried by school children has been considered as one of the risk factor that contributes to musculoskeletal pain or discomfort ,study shows that weight more than 10- 15% of bodyweight changes is enough to change kinematics ,body posture and increases muscular strain, and decreases CVA also it found that if interface between shoulder and backpack strap increases pressure of approximately 30mmHg can reduce the circulation, also it elucidated that the bag having 8 cm width even with high load exerts least pressure on shoulder. As, load is not the only factors that will cause discomforts , the way of wearing it , straps width , time of carrying the backpack , types of backpack can also leads to discomforts at various area of body. Further study reported that even if load exceeds more than 8% has ability to change the CVA alter the posture in 12 years, as their is difference in body structure ,regional demographics are different. So the review suggests that further analysis is needed to identify the optimal load students of different age or grades carried in their backpacks on their daily basis, also the way they carry their backpack to reduce the discomfort in adolescents of age 13-18 years.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to know the perception of using a backpack and its association with MSD and spread the awareness about it among 13-18 years of adolescents.

Methods: Prior permission from the school principal was taken along with the parents' consent and accents from students; the research based questions were taken and formed into questionnaires. According to the eligibility criteria students were selected from different grades and brief explanations were given about the study and those who have given the consent have been included in study and a total of 275 samples were collected.

Results: The students reported discomfort of about 25.8% Upper back,28% trapezius, 2.9 % low back pain, 69% of them reported that sometime they felt fatigued while carrying backpack and students preferred o select bag with design, selection, (43%, 36% respectively and only 21% of them use chest-waist strap. There is significant associations found between the load and musculoskeletal discomforts and between carrying bags for a longer period of time, and 66% of them were aware about the recommended load limit.

Conclusions: The study states that the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomforts among adolescents aged 13-18 years have reported more on trapezius, upper back, shoulder and only few reported low back pain. Further association between load and prolonged period of carrying a backpack with musculoskeletal discomforts states that load can be considered as one of the risk factors for facing discomforts despite having awareness about the recommended limit.

Implications: It can help the policy makers to reduce the burden on children.

Funding acknowledgements: no funding

Keywords:
Backpack
Load
Musculoskeletal discomforts

Topics:
Occupational health & ergonomics
Paediatrics
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Charotar University of Science & Technology

Committee: IEC - CHARUSAT

Ethics number: CHA/IEC/ADM/20/12/1109