Paloma Rodríguez-Oviedo1, María Isolina Santiago-Pérez2, Mónica Pérez-Ríos2,3,4, Dorotea Gómez-Fernández5, Anselmo Fernández-Alonso5, Isabel Carreira-Núñez5, Pilar García-Pacios5, Alberto Ruano-Ravina6,7. 1. Emergency Service, Hospital da Costa, Burela, Lugo, Spain. 2. Department of Epidemiology, Consellería de Sanidade, Xunta de Galicia, La Coruña, Spain. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain. 4. CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Hospital da Costa, Burela, Lugo, Spain. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain. alberto.ruano@usc.es. 7. CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP, Barcelona, Spain. alberto.ruano@usc.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To assess if an educational intervention is effective to reduce backpack weight and back pain in schoolchildren. METHODS: We designed an intervention study in schoolchildren aged between 12 and 16 years aimed to reduce the weight of backpacks and back pain. The intervention was multifaceted, including an educational intervention with practical examples, advising on performing sports, postural habits, leaflets, stickers, and so on. The comparison group did not receive any intervention. RESULTS: A total of 1668 schoolchildren took part in the study. We observed a high prevalence of carrying heavy backpacks, with 66-80% of schoolchildren carrying backpacks surpassing 10% of their body weight. Back pain prevalence was 30%. We observed that the intervention was significant in reducing the backpack weight in first-year schoolchildren but not in second-year. The intervention was also significant in reducing back pain in third-year schoolchildren but only in girls. CONCLUSION: This study shows that an inexpensive intervention directed to reduce the backpack weight and back pain might have a positive effect in schoolchildren.
BACKGROUND: To assess if an educational intervention is effective to reduce backpack weight and back pain in schoolchildren. METHODS: We designed an intervention study in schoolchildren aged between 12 and 16 years aimed to reduce the weight of backpacks and back pain. The intervention was multifaceted, including an educational intervention with practical examples, advising on performing sports, postural habits, leaflets, stickers, and so on. The comparison group did not receive any intervention. RESULTS: A total of 1668 schoolchildren took part in the study. We observed a high prevalence of carrying heavy backpacks, with 66-80% of schoolchildren carrying backpacks surpassing 10% of their body weight. Back pain prevalence was 30%. We observed that the intervention was significant in reducing the backpack weight in first-year schoolchildren but not in second-year. The intervention was also significant in reducing back pain in third-year schoolchildren but only in girls. CONCLUSION: This study shows that an inexpensive intervention directed to reduce the backpack weight and back pain might have a positive effect in schoolchildren.
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