Interaction of body mass index and age in muscular activities among backpack carrying male schoolchildren

The Application of Surface Electromyography Technology in Evaluating Paraspinal Muscle Function

Surface electromyography (sEMG) has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing muscle activity in various clinical and research settings. This review focuses on the application of sEMG specifically in the context of paraspinal muscles. The paraspinal muscles play a critical role in providing stability and facilitating movement of the spine. Dysfunctions or alterations in paraspinal muscle activity can lead to various musculoskeletal disorders and spinal pathologies. Therefore, understanding and quantifying paraspinal muscle activity is crucial for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring therapeutic interventions. This review discusses the clinical applications of sEMG in paraspinal muscles, including the assessment of low back pain, spinal disorders, and rehabilitation interventions. It explores how sEMG can aid in diagnosing the potential causes of low back pain and monitoring the effectiveness of physical therapy, spinal manipulative therapy, and exercise protocols. It also discusses emerging technologies and advancements in sEMG techniques that aim to enhance the accuracy and reliability of paraspinal muscle assessment. In summary, the application of sEMG in paraspinal muscles provides valuable insights into muscle function, dysfunction, and therapeutic interventions. By examining the literature on sEMG in paraspinal muscles, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests future directions for optimizing the use of sEMG in assessing paraspinal muscle activity.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain and Its Relation With Weight of Backpacks in School-Going Children in Eastern India

Background: Recently, heavy school backpacks have become a significant concern among parents and health professionals, as well as the media, but evidence for the same is limited in the Indian context.

Aim: To find the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among school-going children and its relationship with backpack weight.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Method: This study was carried out among school-going children from grade 6 to 10 with age of 10 to 16 years from an urban and rural location. Schools were selected randomly from all enlisted schools in the district of Khurdha, Odisha state of India. A structured questionnaire was administered to assess symptoms of musculoskeletal pain. Anthropometric measurements along with backpack weight were taken.

Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was performed for categorical variables and Student's t-test for continuous variables. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify factors with maximum effect on musculoskeletal pain.

Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 18.8% in the preceding year. Backpacks weights were higher among children of urban schools as compared with rural areas. Children from urban schools were more likely to have pain than those from rural schools (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.41–2.49). Those children with a backpack weight more than 10% of body weight had almost twice the risk of musculoskeletal pain compared to backpack weight less than 10% (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.4–2.6) in univariate analysis where as no significant association was found on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was high in school-going children. In children, carrying higher backpack weight, and a higher percentage of the backpack to bodyweight had a significant association with musculoskeletal pain. Gender, height, body mass index, and backpack weight to body weight > 10% had no association with musculoskeletal pain.

Altered cervical posture kinematics imposed by heavy school backpack loading: A literature synopsis (2009-2019)

Background

Habitual school backpack carriage causes neuro-musculoskeletal vertebral, shoulder and hand pain; deviated posture compromised cardiopulmonary function and proprioception.

Objective

Present a novel literature summary of the influence of backpack carriage associated with deviated cervical posture and compromised pulmonary function.

Method

An electronic literature appraisal adopting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, using Google Scholar, Science Direct, EMBASE, AMED, OVID, PubMed and Sabinet search engines, was instituted during 2009–2019. Key search words: schoolbag, backpack, carriage, cervical posture and children. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Downs and Black Appraisal Scale.

Results

583 records were initially identified which was reduced to 14 experimental and observational studies. A total of 1061 participants were included across the 14 studies, with an average age of 11.5 ± 1.3 years, body mass of 37.8 ± 6.6 kilograms (kg), height of 1.41 ± 0.05 meters (m), backpack mass of 5.2 ± 0.9 kg and percentage backpack mass to child’s body mass of 13.75%. The studies mean rating according to the Downs and Black Appraisal Scale was 76.3%. The average craniovertebral angle (CVA) was 53.9° ± 14.6° whilst standing without carrying a backpack was reduced to 50.4° ± 16.4° when loaded (p < 0.05). Backpack loads carried varied from 5% – 30% of the participant’s body mass that produced a mean CVA decline of 3.5°.

Conclusion

Backpack carriage alters cervical posture, resulting in smaller CVA and compromised pulmonary function. There is no consensus of the precise backpack mass that initiates postural changes. Girls’ posture begin changes when carrying lighter backpacks as compared to boys of the same age strata.

Does schoolbag carriage equally affect obese/overweight and healthy-weight children?

Discrepancies exist in backpack load recommendations for obese/overweight children, and the recommendations do not consider school trolleys. This study analysed obese/overweight and healthy-weight students' perceived load and fatigue when carrying schoolbags and their gait kinematics and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) when carrying backpacks or pulling school trolleys with different loads. Twelve obese/overweight and 36 healthy-weight students were asked about their perceived load and fatigue in carrying their schoolbags to school. Then, a kinematic gait analysis was completed in students walking unloaded or transporting 10%, 15% or 20% of their bodyweight (BW) in a backpack or trolley. RPE was recorded after each condition. The average hip rotation and knee adduction angles differed between body mass index (BMI) groups. The healthy-weight group reported higher RPEs than the overweight/obese group when pulling a trolley with 10-15% BW. In conclusion, both BMI groups responded similarly to load and schoolbag type.

The Site of Musculoskeletal Pain in School Children with Excessive Body Weight and Obesity in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction:

The number of school age children with excessive body weight and perception of musculoskeletal pain is on the rise.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to identify the most common sites of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain in school children with excessive body weight and obesity.

Methods:

A survey included 1315 children aged 9-14 years from September 2016 to January 2017 in the Primary schools of Canton Tuzla. The weight and height were measured for each subject based on which a body mass index was determined and two groups were categorized: a group of children with excessive BMI and obesity (N = 406), and the remaining respondents were part of the control group. The Nordic questionnaire was utilized to examine places of perception of musculoskeletal pain experienced by children in the preceding 7 days (acute) or preceding 1 year (chronic pain).

Results:

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children is 31% (significantly higher in boys than in girls, 38%: 25%). The incidence of acute and chronic pain in children with normal BMI 49% is significantly higher than in excessive BMI 45% or in children with overweight 39.1%. Obesity and overweight are risk factors for the development of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (OR = 1.161, 95% CI, 1.020-1.322). The most common places for chronic pain associated with overweight and obesity are neck (OR = 1.212, 95% CI, 0.893-1.644) and knee (OR = 1.103, 95% CI, 0.690-1.760). While the most common place of acute pain is knee (OR = 1.127 , 95% CI, 0.673-1.890).

Conclusion:

The relationship between excessive body weight and chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in the neck and knees indicates the cumulative effect of exposure to excessive body weight and obesity in BiH school children.