• Beatriz Minghelli, Raul Oliveira, and Carla Nunes.
• School of Health Jean Piaget-Algarve, Piaget Institute, Silves, Portugal.
• Work. 2016 Apr 7; 54 (1): 197-208.

BackgroundThe adoption of incorrect postures or carrying overweight backpacks may contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders in school children.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the weight of backpacks and the postural habits adopted in schools by Portuguese adolescents, and their association with scoliosis and low back pain (LBP).MethodThe sample comprised 966 Portuguese students, aged between 10 and 16 years. The instruments included a questionnaire to characterize the presence of LBP and the postural habits adopted by students, the weighing of backpacks and a scoliometer to evaluate scoliosis.ResultsNo association was observed between assuming incorrect postures and carrying overweight backpacks, in students with scoliosis. Students who adopted incorrect sitting postures had 1.77 times the risk (95% CI: 1.32-2.36; p < 0.001) of developing LBP; those positioned incorrectly whilst watching TV and playing games had 1.44 times the risk (95% CI: 1.08-1.90; p = 0.012) of developing LBP; and those standing incorrectly had 2.39 the risk (95% CI: 1.52-3.78; p < 0.001) of developing LBP.ConclusionsThe results revealed that students who sat with the spine positioned wrongly, as well as those who were standing incorrectly, were more likely to present with LBP.

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