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Musculoskeletal symptomatology in skeletally immature students carrying heavy backpacks: a cross-sectional study
Zehra Alvi1, Ali Alvi1, Melanie A Mascarenhas2,3
1University of Toronto St. George, Department of Human Biology.
Background:
Young students with skeletal immaturity report an increasing number of musculoskeletal symptoms associated with daily use of heavy backpacks. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between heavy backpack use and reports of pain.
Methods:
Data were collected from 300 students aged 11 to 18 at the University of Toronto Schools.
Results:
Students, on average, carried 15.9% of their body weight. 54% of students reported physiological complaints, primarily back, shoulder, neck, and leg pain. Backpack weight as a % of body weight was strongly associated with pain complaints. Younger students and those with longer commutes were more likely to report heavy backpacks (50% compared to 22.6% of older students, p< .001) and pain.
Conclusion:
Carrying heavy backpacks could result in increased musculoskeletal complaints in young students. Findings suggest that even the upper bound of currently recommended guidelines (20% of body weight) may be too high, especially for younger children.
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