The relationship between back pain and schoolbag use: a cross-sectional study of 5,318 Italian students

Aprile, Irene; Stasio, Enrico Di; Vincenzi, M.; Arezzo, Maria Felice; Santis, F. De; Mosca, Rita; Briani, Chiara; Sipio, Enrica Di; Germanotta, Marco; Padua, Luca

doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2016.01.214

Cited by 33 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In our group, the occurrence of back pain was related to the gender, and back pain was more frequent in female compared to male students. Comparably to our results, Aprile et al (29) demonstrated, in a group of 5318 healthy students aged 6-19 years, that schoolbag-related pain was significantly more frequent and more severe in girls compared to boys (29).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

School bags and associated back pain

Hadžiomerović

Jaganjac

Avdić

et al. 2018

JHSCI

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Introduction: The most common health problem associated with the negative effect of heavy school bags is back pain, and non-specific back pain is frequently observed in childhood. The prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren varies from 12% to 92%, depending on the age and affected region of the back. To prevent the occurrence of back pain in schoolchildren, the weight of school bag should not exceed 10% of the child’s body mass.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in April 2017. We included 79 students of the fifth and sixth grade from the elementary school in Sarajevo. Information on the weight and type of school bag, method of carrying a school bag, and feelings of pain and tiredness due to school bag were obtained by questionnaire.Results: In the total sample, the majority of the students (64.6%) reported occasional back pain while carrying the bag, 20.3% of students reported no back pain, and 11.4% of students experienced frequent back pain. The mean school bag weight in the fifth grade was 4.01 ± 0.57 kg, and it was significantly higher (4.61 ± 0.86 kg) in the sixth grade. About 48.5% of the students in the fifth and 50% in the sixth grade carried school bags weighing more than 10% of the body mass. A higher mean weight of school bag was significantly more frequent in students who reported always feeling tired (11.03 ± 2.74%) compared to those who did not feel tired while carrying the school bag (8.41 ± 2%).Conclusions: Overall, more frequent occurrence of back pain and tiredness in schoolchildren was associated with heavier school bags (>10% of the body mass), and the occurrence of back pain due to school bag was related to gender (i.e., back pain was more common in girls compared to boys).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

School bags and associated back pain

Hadžiomerović

Jaganjac

Avdić

et al. 2018

JHSCI

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“…As in adults, gender is a determining factor for pain. In our study, girls had lower pain threshold values than did boys regardless of the type and weight of the backpack, as previously reported in the literature [30,31,45,46].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Presenting a low pressure pain threshold or a threshold that is lower than the value determined as normal is usually related to the presence of pain in a specific zone [14]; this was shown by the relationships that were found between supraspinatus/cervical pain and shoulder pain, trapezius/cervical pain and middle trapezius/lumbar pain. This could be explained by the pressure exerted by handled backpacks on the anatomical structures studied [16] as well as by the activation of the musculature of these areas in supporting and transporting the weight of the backpack; this activation occurs during the use of both handled and wheeled backpacks [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between School Backpacks and Musculoskeletal Pain in Children 8 to 10 Years of Age: An Observational, Cross-Sectional and Analytical Study

Hernández

Ferré

Martí

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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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 musculoskeletal pain or a lower pressure pain threshold than the others, although they did report greater fatigue. All these topics should be debated considering the student’s social environment and the backpack’s discomfort to the children, even though no relationship was found between musculoskeletal pain and backpack weight.

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“…These results are similar to the finding of a previous study [38], which reported that relative schoolbag weight alone is not enough as a guideline for safe schoolbag weight. Other factors should be taken into consideration along with relative weight, including carrying duration and method [38][39][40]. In addition, other studies suggest that schoolbag weight limits should take student age [41] and sex [42] into consideration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Back Pain and Schoolbags among Adolescents in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Assiri

Mahfouz

Awadalla

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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The incorrect carriage of schoolbags and heavy bags may result in back pain (BP) in adolescents. Our objective was to assess the problem of BP and associated factors among adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study targeting intermediate and secondary school adolescents in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. An anonymous questionnaire for BP was used. Student body weight and the weight of their full schoolbag were measured. The study included 876 adolescents. An overall prevalence of BP of 39.4% (95% CI: 35.3–43.7) was found. Upper BP (UBP), middle BP (MBP), and lower BP (LBP) amounted to 14.5%, 13.4%, and 11.5%, respectively. Associated significant factors with MBP were carrying the bag on one side compared to on the back (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.20–3.73) and being at intermediate level compared to secondary (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.04–2.40). On the other hand, gender and schoolbag weight/body weight percent were not found to be significantly associated with MBP. None of the studied factors were significantly associated with overall BP, UBP, or LBP. BP is a prevalent among adolescents in southwest Saudi Arabia. One-sided schoolbag carriage is a significant associated factor for middle back pain. Parents and teachers should encourage students to consider the correct way to carry schoolbag.

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The relationship between back pain and schoolbag use: a cross-sectional study of 5,318 Italian students

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

School bags and associated back pain

School bags and associated back pain

Relationship between School Backpacks and Musculoskeletal Pain in Children 8 to 10 Years of Age: An Observational, Cross-Sectional and Analytical Study

Back Pain and Schoolbags among Adolescents in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

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