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Effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children

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Abstract

Purpose

Population based studies have demonstrated that children and adolescents often complain of low back pain. A group-randomized controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children aged 10–12 year.

Methods

The study sample included 137 children aged 10.7 years (SD = 0.672). Six classes from two primary schools were randomly allocated into experimental group (EG) (N = 63) or control group (CG) (N = 74). The EG received a postural education program over 6 weeks consisting of six sessions, while the CG followed the usual school curriculum. A questionnaire was fulfilled by the participants at pre-test, post-test, and 3 months after the intervention finished. The outcomes collected were: (1) try to load the minimum weight possible, (2) carry school backpack on two shoulders, (3) belief that school backpack weight does not affect to the back, and (4) the use of locker or something similar at school. A sum score was computed from the four items.

Results

Single healthy items mostly improved after the intervention and remained improved after 3-month follow-up in EG, while no substantial changes were observed in the CG. Healthy backpack use habits score was significantly increased at post-test compared to baseline in the EG (P < 0.000), and remained significantly increased after 3-month, compared to baseline (P = 0.001). No significant changes were observed in the CG (P > 0.2).

Conclusions

The present study findings confirm that children are able to learn healthy backpack habits which might prevent future low back pain.

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Acknowledgments

No grant or external financial supports were received for this research. CEIP Establiments and CEIP Gabriel Comas I Ribas, both are primary schools from Majorca, and their students and staff are thanked for their contribution to this research.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise and Sports Science Research Group, University of Balearic Islands, Ctra. Valldemossa km.7’5, Edifici Guillem Cifre de Colonya, Palma of Majorca, 07122, Spain

    Josep Vidal, Pere A. Borràs, Francisco J. Ponseti, Jaume Cantallops & Pere Palou

  2. Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at NOVUM, Karolinska Institutet, 14157, Huddinge, Sweden

    Francisco B. Ortega

  3. Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Av. De Madrid 13, 18012, Granada, Spain

    Francisco B. Ortega

Authors
  1. Josep Vidal
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  2. Pere A. Borràs
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  3. Francisco J. Ponseti
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  4. Jaume Cantallops
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  5. Francisco B. Ortega
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  6. Pere Palou
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Correspondence to Josep Vidal.

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Vidal, J., Borràs, P.A., Ponseti, F.J. et al. Effects of a postural education program on school backpack habits related to low back pain in children. Eur Spine J 22, 782–787 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2558-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-012-2558-7

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