The weight of schoolbags and the occurrence of neck, shoulder, back pain and psychosomatic factors in adolescents

Study Design. A cross sectional study of 745 young adolescents in the Netherlands. Objectives. To assess the prevalence of neck and/or shoulder and back complaints in young adolescents and to examine relationships with type and weight of schoolbags, and other risk factors. Methods. With a questionnaire complaints of back, neck and/or shoulders and potential risk factors including psychosomatic factors were asked. Length and weight of the children were determined. Schoolbags were weighted and the relative weight was calculated. Results. Neck and/or shoulder complaints and back complaints were reported by about 45% of young adolescents. Severe complaints of neck and/or shoulder were reported by 6%, severe back complaints by 7% of the school children. The (relative) weight of schoolbags was not related to complaints of neck and/or shoulder and back. Psychosomatic factors showed the strongest association with the occurrence of neck and/or shoulder and back complaints.Conclusion. Psychosomatic factors are more strongly related to the occurrence of neck and/or shoulder and back complaints than the type and weight of the schoolbag and other physical factors. The role of psychosomatic factors should be further explored in longitudinal research