Rohit Shishodia
A study conducted by doctors of Delhi-AIIMS on 1600 adolescents studying in government schools in Delhi has revealed that 63% of them had musculoskeletal pain due to carrying heavy schoolbags. Musculoskeletal pain can lead to arthritis.

The study was conducted by the Department of Rheumatology, Delhi AIIMS, from April 2018 to March 2019. The study, which included 53% males and 47% females from 10 to 19 years of age, also found lower back pain among 32% students.

“The risk factors were found higher in female participants. Physical activity was found less than 60 minutes daily in female participants. Use of smart phones more than two hours per day was also found to cause musculoskeletal pain. Watching television more than two hours per day was also linked with musculoskeletal pain in female participants,” said Dr Uma Kumar, HOD, Department of Rheumatology, Delhi-AIIMS.

“The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was significantly higher among students carrying bags weighing more than 10% of their body weight, and it was two times higher than among students carrying bag weighing less than 10% of their body weight,” added Dr Kumar.

Dr Kumar pointed out that students having dietary gap score of less than 5 out of 10 are more likely to get musculoskeletal pain than those having dietary score more than 8.

Dr Kumar said prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among school children because of heavy school bag is quite high which necessitates the need for strict implementation of directives of HRD ministry which say that class 1 and class 2 students should not carry bags weighing more than 1.5 kg.

“Class 3 and Class 5 students' bag weight should not be more than 3 kg while class 6 and 7 students should not carry bags weighing more than 4 kg and class 8 and 9 students should not carry more than 4.5 kg. A bag for class 10th should not be more than 5 kg,” added Dr Kumar.