Effects of a two-school-year multifactorial back education program in elementary schoolchildren

Area of Science:

• Pediatric health
• Public health interventions
• Ergonomics in schools

Background:

• Rising prevalence of nonspecific back pain in children.
• Multifactorial risk factors contribute to adolescent back pain.
• School-based interventions show promise for improving child posture.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate a 2-school-year multifactorial back education program.
• Assess impacts on elementary schoolchildren's back posture knowledge and behavior.
• Examine effects on self-reported pain and fear-avoidance beliefs.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-experimental pre/post design with intervention and control groups (n=365).
• Intervention included back education and promoting postural dynamism.
• Evaluations used questionnaires and observational assessments of posture and material handling.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in back posture knowledge (P < 0.001).
• Enhanced postural behavior during material handling (P < 0.001).
• Reduced trunk flexion and neck torsion duration during lessons (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The multifactorial program improved postural aspects related to spinal loading in children.
• Further research is needed on long-term effects on back pain prevalence.
• The intervention demonstrated positive impacts on key postural indicators.