ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BACKPAIN & BACKPACK WEIGHT AMONG SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 10 TO 14 YEARS IN LAHORE

Abstract

Background: Back pain, particularly affecting the lower ribs and gluteal area, is prevalent among adolescents, with rates ranging from 11% to 52.1%. Low back pain has become a major health concern, often leading to musculoskeletal issues at an early age. School backpacks are known contributors to lumbar discomfort due to increased weight from academic materials. Ergonomic factors, weight distribution, and posture while carrying bags play essential roles in back pain among school-going children.

Objective: To assess the association between back pain and backpack weight among school children aged 10 to 14 years in Lahore.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2022, involving 385 students aged 10-14 from three private schools in Lahore. Inclusion criteria required students to have no physical deformities. Ethical clearance was obtained (No. HCHS/2022/ERC/026-27). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics calculated for frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, and range. The chi-square test was applied to assess the association between back pain and backpack weight, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The average age of participants was 12.56±1.683 years, with 62.4% females and 37.6% males. Schools in urban areas accounted for 93.2% of participants, while 6.8% were from rural areas. Among the students, 27.2% carried light bags (2-4 kg), 64.4% carried medium bags (4-6 kg), and 8.4% carried heavy bags (6-10 kg). Daily travel time to school was under 10 minutes for 30.8%, 10-20 minutes for 48.0%, 21-25 minutes for 19.2%, 26-30 minutes for 1.6%, and over 30 minutes for 0.4%. Notably, 62.4% of students sometimes experienced back pain, with heavy backpacks significantly associated with higher pain levels (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: Heavy backpacks are a prominent factor in low back pain among school children, exacerbating strain on the shoulders and back. Further research using diverse observational methods is recommended to explore practical solutions for reducing backpack-related musculoskeletal strain in children.