Association of heavy bag lifting time with postural pain in secondary school students

Abstract

To determine the association between heavy bag lifting with posture among secondary school students. METHODS: This study was a cross sectional survey. Based on sample of convenience, total 380 Students of both gendersbelonging to Beaconhouse School System, KIPS School System,Educators School and The Punjab School System were included with an age 14 to 17 years (school grade 9 to 12). The data was collected using the Reedco scale and Grimmer’s Questionnaire for assessment of posture and, use of heavy bags andits associated pain, respectively. RESULTS: The majority of participants in this consisted of young adults above 12 years (39%) and below 12years (34%) with male predominant (54%). 370 students out of 380 were carrying heavy bags. The types of bags they mostly carry were backpacks (51%), satchel (34%) and others (15%). 48% of these students never used lockers and 40% of them often use locker 55% of them never use waist belt to carry bag.  Most of the students 48% spend 11 to 20 minutes for carrying bag per day.61% of them carry extra load (water bottles, lunch boxes, guide books) with them also. Out of 380 students 246 had pain in different body regions due to heavy bags 64% had neck pain and 53% had upper back pain while 19% had shoulder pain. Out of 184 students that carry bag from 11 to 20 minutes, 115 had poor neck posture, 133 had poor shoulder posture 25 had poor head posture and 5 had poor upper back pain and that carry from 21 to 30 minutes out of 167 students 122 had bad neck posture and 132 had poor shoulder posture 50 had poor head posture 105 had poor upper back posture. CONCLUSION: There was found significant association between heavy bag lifting and poor posture with related pain in regions of cervical followed by upper back in secondary school students.