Assessment of Backpacks Parameters and Postural Structure Disturbances Association among Iranian Children

Moslemi, Shahrbanoo; Mohammadi, Saber; Hosseininejad, Mahin; Mohtasham, Sima; Kabir-Mokamelkhah, Elaheh

doi:10.22038/ijp.2017.24958.2111

Assessment of Backpacks Parameters and Postural Structure Disturbances Association among Iranian Children

Authors

¹ Occupational Medicine Department , Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

² Professor, Occupational Medicine Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Occupational Medicine Research Center (OMRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.22038/ijp.2017.24958.2111

Abstract

Background: Postural structure abnormalities have been highly prevalent among children in primary school children.The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the backpacks weight and method of carrying with postural structure disturbances in primary school children.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 472 primary school children in Karaj-Iran. Study investigators, assessed stature structure disturbances of head, neck, and spinal cord based on the New York scoring protocol. Ergonomic data of backpacks such as type of bag, weight of students' bags, the method of carrying bag, feeling pain when carrying the backpack, the mean time for carrying the backpack from school to home, was evaluated

Results: In this study 97.2% of students carried backpacks as the school bags and only 1.9% carried their bags correctly. The mean time for carrying backpacks was associated with the increased risk for posture disorder including forward head (p<0.001), crookneck (p = 0.006), scoliosis (p = 0.006), lordosis (p = 0.006), and kyphosis (p<0.001). Also, the risk for all disturbances was significantly higher in those students who carried their bags themselves than others used services. Kyphosis was significantly more prevalent in students having backpacks weighted higher than 10% of their body weight (odds ration [OR] = 2.50, 95%confidence interval[CI]: 1.61-4.10, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: According to the results the postural structure disturbances was partially high among primary school children and were closely associated with some ergonomic parameters such as weight and type of backpack.

Keywords