Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 33, Issue 6 , Pages 432-437 , July 2010

The Association of Self-Reported Backpack Use and Backpack Weight With Low Back Pain Among College Students

  • Zachary Heuscher, MS

      Affiliations

    • Masters in Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo
    • ,
  • David P. Gilkey, DC, PhD, CPE

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo
    • Corresponding Author InformationSubmit requests for reprints to: David P. Gilkey, DC, PhD, CPE, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, 146 EH Bldg, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1681
    • ,
  • Jennifer L. Peel, PhD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo
    • ,
  • Catherine A. Kennedy, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo

Received 1 November 2009 ,Revised 16 February 2010 ,Accepted 17 June 2010.

References 

  1. Jones GT, Macfarlane GJ. Epidemiology of low back pain in children and adolescents. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:312–316
  2. Feldman DE, Shrier I, Rossignol M, Abenhaim L. Risk factors for the development of low back pain in adolescence. Am J Epidemiol. 2001;154:30–35
  3. Kennedy C, Kassab O, Gilkey D. Psychosocial factors and low back pain among college students. J Am Coll Health. 2008;57:191–194
  4. Biering-Sorensen F. A prospective study of low back pain in a general population. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1983;15:71–79
  5. Troussier B, Davoine P, deGaudemaris R, Fauconnier J, Phelip X. Back pain in schoolchildren: a study among 1178 pupils. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1994;26:143–146
  6. Jones GT, Watson KD, Silman AJ, Deborah PM. Predictors of low back pain in British schoolchildren: a population-based prospective cohort study. Pediatrics. 2003;111:822–829
  7. American College Health Association (ACHA) . National College Health Assessment spring 2007 reference group data report (abridged). J Am Coll Health. 2008;56:469–479
  8. American College Health Association (ACHA) . National College Health Assessment spring 2003 reference group data report (abridged). J Am Coll Health. 2005;53:201–211
  9. Brattberg G. Do pain problems in young school children persist into early adulthood? A 13-year follow-up. Eur J Pain. 2004;8:187–199
  10. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kyvik KO, Manniche C. The course of low back pain from adolescence to adulthood. Spine. 2006;31:468–472
  11. Skaggs DL, Early SD, D'Ambra P, Tolo VT, Kay RM. Back pain and backpacks in school children. J Pediatr Orthop. 2006;26:358–363
  12. Sheir-Neiss GL, Kruse RW, Rahman T. The association of backpack use and back pain in adolescents. Spine. 2003;28:922–930
  13. Viry P, Creveuil C, Marcelli C. Nonspecific back pain in children: a search for associated factors in 14-year-old school children. Rev Rhum England Edition. 1999;66:331–338
  14. Lindstrom-Hazel D. The backpack problem is evident but the solution is less obvious. Work. 2009;32:329–338
  15. Neuschwander TB, Cutrone J, Macias BR, Cutrone S, Merthy G, Chambers H, et al. The effect of backpacks on the lumbar spine in children. Spine. 2009;35:83–88
  16. Devroey C, Jonkers I, Becker A, Lenaerts G, Spaepen A. Evaluation of the effect of backpack load and position during standing and walking using biomechanical and subjective measures. Ergonomics. 2007;50:728–742
  17. Al-Khabbaz YS, Shimada T, Haseqawa M. The effect of backpack heaviness on the trunk-lower extremity muscle activities and trunk posture. Gait Posture. 2008;28:297–302
  18. Chow DH, Leung KT, Holmes AD. Changes in spinal curvature and proprioception of schoolboys carrying different weight of backpack. Ergonomics. 2007;40:2148–2156
  19. Kim MH, Ti CH, Kwon OY, Cho SH, Yoo WG. Changes in neck muscles electromyography and forward head posture of children when carrying schoolbags. Ergonomics. 2008;51:890–901
  20. Chow DH, Ou ZY, Wang XG, Lai A. Short-term effects of backpack load placement on spine deformation and repositioning error in schoolchildren. Ergonomics. 2010;53:56–64
  21. Kleinbaum DG, Klein M. Logistic regression: a self-learning text. New York: Springer-Verlag Inc.; 2002;
  22. Vitiello AL. The effect of backpack on the electromyographical activity of back muscles. Doctoral thesis. Sydney, Australia: Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University; 2009;
  23. Rothman KJ, Greenland S. Modern epidemiology. 2nd ed.. Philadelphia: Lippiincott-Raven; 1998;
  24. Battie MC, Videman KT. Epidemiology of the back. In:  Nordin M,  Andersson BJ editor. Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace: principles and practice. 1st ed.. St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book Inc; 1997;p. 253–267
  25. Grimmer KA, Dansie B, Milanese S, Pirunsan U, Trott P. Adolescent standing postural response to backpack loads: a randomized controlled experimental study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2002;10:189–196
  26. Rathmell JP, Ballantyne JC. Evaluating patients with low back pain. Pain Manag Rounds. 2005;2:42–48

PII: S0161-4754(10)00150-8

doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.06.003

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 33, Issue 6 , Pages 432-437 , July 2010

Article Tools