Development and application of a questionnaire to school population on backpacks and its influence on back pain

Objectives: through this study, it is intended to know which habits and ergonomic knowledge we have on the transportation of school material. Besides, we know which weight students carry and to contrast it with the data that specialists recommend. Method: development and application of a guided questionnaire to 700 adolescents carried out in five Compulsory Secondary Education schools in Ponferrada, Toreno and Cacabelos (all the schools are placed in León province). Results: relevant data are obtained in the use of the backpack as the most common way to transport school materials. The weight transported is superior to the recommended one. This weight excess is found with bigger frequency among the younger students of the Compulsory Secondary Education schools. Conclusions: it must be avoided that pupils transport superior weight to the healthily allowed. In addition, enough knowledge on ergonomics should be provided to get a correct formation of their backs.