TO FIND OUT PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN BY CARRYING HEAVY HANDBAGS AMONG COLLEGE GIRLS AND ITS RELATION WITH THEIR BMI

Background: Students aged 18-30yrs undergo rapid musculoskeletal development and an application of external forces (handbags) cause musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal pain is one of the most important pains among students. Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomforts and pain in various regions of the body due to heavy handbag usage in university/college students and to examine its association with the type of handbag, handbag load, time spent carrying load, distance travelled carrying load, and the student?s body mass index(BMI). Methods: This co-relational descriptive study was conducted on students selected from different colleges of Oxford educational institutions. The study goals were explained and obtained informed consent. Their Bag weight, Body weight and Height was measured. The data on handbag use were collected using a self administered questionnaire and the data on musculoskeletal pains was taken using Orebro musculoskeletal pain questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using Microsoft excel. Results: The results shows that 83.3% reported musculoskeletal pain/discomforts. The overall prevalence of discomforts/pain in Neck 25%, Shoulder 21%, Lower back 23%, Upper back 19%, Leg 8%, Arm 4%. The average handbag weight carried was 3.2kg (3.29?1.12, 35%). The results shows that Bag weight is correlated with the BMI(p<0.05), Carrying duration(p<0.05) & Pain(p <0.05) which states that the results are statistically significant. But no correlation found between bag weight & distance travelled daily with the bag on the shoulders and as (p >0.05). Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain/discomforts is reported among students of different colleges with an overall prevalence of (83.3%). This discomfort/pain is potentially influenced by bag weight, carrying duration & BMI. This study proves that there is correlation between the above variables.