Is school furniture design a contributing factor to low back pain in adolescents?

Abstract Background Recent evidence showed that low back pain (LBP) is frequent among youth. Individual etiologic factors are most often associated with musculoskeletal overuse and altered postural control. This study aimed to evaluate the association between school furniture design and LBP in school-adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-reported questionnaire distributed to school-adolescents aged 12-18 years, in Southern Tunisia, 2018. We performed a stratified three-step sample to obtain a representative sample of 1400 subjects. Results The response rate was 87.2% (1221 students). The mean schoolbag weight was 3±1.3 kg. The schoolbag to body weight ratio was 0.05±0.03. The main method of carrying a schoolbag was on both shoulders (57.2%). During the last 3 months, LBP was reported in 391 cases (32%). Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that high-school grade was independently associated with LBP (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=2.7;95% CI = [1.9-3.7];p<0.001). Classroom furniture and layout design independently associated with LBP included too low seat backrest (AOR=1.4;95% CI = [1.12-1.87];p=0.005), too far seat to black(board) distance (AOR=1.5;95% CI = [1.1-2.2];p=0.041), schoolbag to body weight ratio ≥10% (AOR=1.7;95% CI = [1.2-2.4]; p = 0.002) and carrying schoolbag for 30-60 minutes (AOR=1.48;95% CI = [1.1-2.1]; p = 0.029). Otherwise, carrying school bag by hand (AOR=0.25; 95% CI = [0.07-0.89]; p = 0.033) was found to be independently associated with lower prevalence of LBP complaints. Conclusions Current design of school furniture is not compatible with the adequate purposed dimensions in students. It increased substantially the risk of LBP, which emphasizes the need for multi-disciplinary approach involving teachers, policy makers and health care professionals. Key messages School related LBP may threaten the physical performance and the social life of adolescents. Revising school environments and radical ergonomic interventions are mandatory.

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Low Back Pain in Athletes Is Associated with General and Sport Specific Risk Factors: A Comprehensive Review of Longitudinal Studies

Rehabilitation Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2015/850184 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Vahideh Moradi ◽

Amir-Hossein Memari ◽

Monir ShayestehFar ◽

Ramin Kordi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Body Weight ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Longitudinal Studies ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Low Back ◽

Lumbar Flexion ◽

High Body

We aimed to examine systematically the available evidence on risk factors of low back pain (LBP) in athletes. We performed search without language restriction in PubMed, Ovid, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINAHL. Longitudinal studies that examined possible risk factors of LBP in athletes were included in this systematic review. Based on methodological quality of studies, a best-evidence synthesis was conducted. Seven longitudinal studies were included, four of which had high methodological quality. Results showed that previous LBP, decreased lumbar flexion, and decreased lumbar extension are positively associated with LBP. There was moderate evidence for hip flexor tightness and high body weight as a risk factor. We found insufficient evidence for association between forward bending, previous injury, and amount of training per week, active years, age, and sex with LBP. In conclusion this study would provide a list of risk factors for LBP in athletes, though it showed a strong evidence for only a few including decrease lumbar flexion or extension, previous LBP, and high body weight. This review indicated a high heterogeneity of study characteristics including assessed risk factors and statistical techniques might limit the quality of evidence.

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Prevalence of Work Related Low Back Pain in Healthcare Professionals

Asian Journal of Allied Health Sciences (AJAHS) ◽

10.52229/ajahs.v2i3.305 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 26-30

Author(s):

OJS Admin

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

The Other ◽

Low Back ◽

Work Related ◽

Causative Factors

Health care professionals experience more low back pain than most of the other groups. Occupational and social stresses, no use of preventive measures, poor body mechanics, excessive movements and not seeking medical care are considered as the causative factors for back pain.

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Reduction of body weight through nutrition intervention reduces chronic low back pain

2015 E-Health and Bioengineering Conference (EHB) ◽

10.1109/ehb.2015.7391427 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Sinziana-Calina Silisteanu ◽

Mihai Covasa

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Low Back

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Prevalence of Work-Related Low Back Pain among Health Care Professionals in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.5455/mjhs.2019.01.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 52 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shahul Mohamed ◽

Hamad Amer

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Low Back ◽

Work Related

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A Critical Review of Low Back Pain Guidelines

Workplace Health & Safety ◽

10.1177/2165079917702384 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 65 (9) ◽

pp. 388-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Laran Chetty

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Critical Review ◽

Clinical Guidelines ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Low Back ◽

Agree Instrument

Low back pain (LBP) remains one of the most common and challenging musculoskeletal conditions encountered by health care professionals and is a leading cause of absenteeism. Clinical guidelines are often considered best evidence in health care. The aim of this critical review was to assess the quality and recommendations of LBP guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument. Electronic databases were used to identify LBP guidelines published between 2000 and 2015. Nine guidelines were selected for review from a total of 17. Only five guidelines effectively addressed the AGREE scoring. On the basis of the appraisal and domain scores, only four guidelines were strongly recommended. Improved translation of research evidence from guidelines to clinical practice is needed.

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Association of Muscle-Strengthening Activity With Knee and Low Back Pain, Falls, and Health-related Quality of Life Among Japanese Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Survey

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2013-0038 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kazuhiro Harada ◽

Ai Shibata ◽

Koichiro Oka ◽

Yoshio Nakamura

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Body Weight ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Muscle Strengthening ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

This study aimed to examine the association of muscle-strengthening activity with knee and low back pain, falls, and health-related quality of life among Japanese older adults. A cross-sectional survey targeted 3,000 people. The response rate was 52% and 208 respondents did not meet the inclusion criteria. Therefore, 1,351 individuals were analyzed. Muscle-strengthening activity (exercise using equipment and body weight, lifestyle activities), knee and low back pain, falls over the past year, health-related quality of life (SF-8), and potential confounders were assessed. Individuals engaging in exercise using body weight and lifestyle activity (≥ 2 days/week) were more likely to have knee pain. Engaging in exercise using equipment and body weight was associated with higher scores of general health. These results indicate that exercise using equipment and body weight might have a positive effect on health-related quality of life, but muscle-strengthening activities are associated with knee pain in older people.

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Identifying relations between posture and pain in lower back pain patients: a narrative review

Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy ◽

10.1186/s43161-021-00052-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sai Kripa ◽

Harmanpreet Kaur

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Low Back ◽

Strenuous Activity ◽

Anterior Pelvic Tilt ◽

Unpleasant Feeling ◽

Flat Back ◽

Pain Patients

AbstractPosture is a “body’s attitude or the positioning of the limbs when standing or sitting.” There are many examples of different postures which include lordotic posture, swayback posture, flat back, and anterior pelvic tilt. Everyone in some of the other parts of their life considers pain as an unpleasant feeling or sensation that is experienced. Specifically, low back pain can be relentless and daunting to many people who often recovered without the need of a health care professional or any treatment by changing their posture or performing the movement. Various factors are leading to low back pain other than the postural fault, for instance, age, sedentary lifestyle, anxiety, and sleep. However, for back pain, posture has become deep-rooted in people’s thoughts. Health care professionals have instructed people to correct their posture to fight back pain. As people become older, the posture becomes worse, but this does not appear to cause pain. If any person cannot move his/her body, that does not mean that they are having a problem involving posture; that is actually because of a problem relating to movement. A study proved that there is no difference in the lordotic angle of the populace having an issue with LBP. There is a decrease in the range and speed of the movement performed. What matters is the movement rather than the appearance of standing or sitting. The primary aim of this paper is to improve knowledge and understanding of the association between posture and LBP, as, speaking about recent researches, they have observed no association between posture and LBP. There are many studies published to support this evidence. People call the importance of posture and alignment for while performing a heavy deadlift, land a jump, or any strenuous activity. Therefore, an urge to write a paper on this topic is to change the mindset of many people worrying out there about their postural faults or their appearances by providing information about varying their static posture to conform to some ideal and keep moving to improve their function.

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