George, Deepti and Nayak, Baby S and Shetty, Sheela (2015) Bag Pack Weight and Musculoskeletal Discomfort Among School Children. Nursing and Midwifery Research Journal, 11 (3). pp. 97-102.

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Abstract

Injuries and back strain caused by carrying too heavy back packs is a new form of injury in school age children and teens. A school based cross sectional study was carried out among 1000 school students aged between 10 – 12 years attending 5th- 7th standard with the objective to assess the back pack weight and musculoskeletal discomfort and their association with selected variables. The study was conducted at eight randomly selected schools of Udupi District, Karnataka.Cluster sampling technique was adopted for selecting the children. Weights of the bags were assessed using calibrated weighing scale and musculoskeletal discomfort was assessed using Standardized Nordic questionnaire (Kuorinka et al, 1986). The findings of the study showed that among 1000 children, 860 (86%) had musculoskeletal discomfort and 910 (91 %) children were carrying heavy bag pack. Children studying in fifth standard, aged 11 years, studying in English medium school and under CBSE stream had reported presence of musculoskeletal discomfort more than the other children. Children aged 10 years, studying in fifth standard, English medium school and under CBSE stream were carrying heavy bag than the other children. The study concluded that primary school children were carrying heavy bag pack compared to recommended weight.Musculoskeletal discomfort is independent of bag pack weight. However, carrying heavy bag pack may lead to musculoskeletal abnormality in later life

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