Effects of Excessive Back Loads from Student’s Backpacks of the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus

Details

• Personal Author:
  Delgado RM ; Orta Anes L
• Description:
  Objective: Backpacks are a tool used to transport personal materials These may be beneficial, but it also can be a risk factor for musculo-skeletal injuries. Improper use of this tool can cause musculo-skeletal problems. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recommends that a healthy backpack should not exceed 10% of the user's body weight. This study analyzes the association between backpacks loads excess and musculo-skeletal pain among university students. Methods: A survey was created and sent to the students by e-mail receiving 61 answered. Results: The statistical analysis showed a relationship magnitude of 2.5 (OR = 2.5) between overloaded backpacks (more than 10% of body weight) and pain the back, an OR = 1.5 for pain in the neck and OR = 1.03 for pain in the shoulders. Conclusion: Given these results it is recommended that the weight of student backpacks must be less or equal to 10% of their body weight. Results show that using overweight backpacks could increase risk of musculo-skeletal problems. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Musculo-skeletal Disorders Back Injuries Back Pain Exposure Levels MSD Muscular Disorders Musculoskeletal System Disorders Risk Factors
• Publisher:
  University of South Florida (USF)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Florida ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Puerto Rico
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063924
• Citation:
  Sunshine ERC Research Poster Session/USF Health Research Day, February 20-22, 2014, Tampa, Florida. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida (USF), 2014 Feb; :9
• Contact Point Address:
  Rebeca Delgado, University of Puerto Rico Industrial Hygiene Program
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  Sunshine Education and Research Center, University of South Florida
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Sunshine ERC Research Poster Session/USF Health Research Day, February 20-22, 2014, Tampa, Florida
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d96737a609a17f3798230c1fbbe6a13a23a86f04aa84912a5beee41136e761d1f9a86ca9b8240e1482361e88aec30afa2b3732ef1e733741744cbaa781c56649
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222459/cdc_222459_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 115.53 KB ]