Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: February | Volume: 11 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 157-170
Effectiveness of an Ergonomic Intervention Program in College Students Carrying Backpack in a Metropolitan City
Chetna Prakash Waradkar1, Shilpshree Prashant Palsule2
1Master of Occupational Therapy , Occupational Therapy School & Centre, Seth G.S. Medical College & KEMH, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
2Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy School & Centre, Seth G.S. Medical College & KEMH, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Corresponding Author: Shilpshree Prashant Palsule
ABSTRACT
Background: College going students and backpack is common scenario. Backpack is easiest way to carry necessary stuff. Carrying overstuffed backpacks might be seen harmless but can turn into more than just a weight problem. College students might ignore & not report the problems. Thus, this study can help to check ergonomic intervention effect in one of the various cumulative trauma disorders that the college students may be exposed to.
Objectives: The research was designed to study the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention program in college students carrying backpack in a metropolitan city.
Design: An interventional prospective study design was chosen for the research.
Methods: After institutional ethics committee approval, samples of 30 college students were recruited using convenient sampling method in this study. Each participant was assessed using standardised tools - Visual Analog scale (VAS), Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire , backpack questionnaire ,case record form at the first day of study & reassessed after 4 weeks post ergonomic intervention .Each participant was discharged after 4 weeks of initial recruitment.
Results: Data was subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v 21.0, IBM). Comparison of frequencies of categories of variables with groups was done using chi square test. 63.3% of participants reported neck pain which was highest followed by low back 30% & upper back pain 26.7%. Post intervention pain intensity on VAS scale was also reduced.
Conclusion: The study concluded that college students carrying backpack had some musculoskeletal problems. Ergonomic intervention provided to them was effective in improvement of muscle power and reducing pain intensity.
Key words: Backpack, College students, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal disorders.