A holistic backpack back pain model for prepubescent primary school children

The present recommendation of the maximum bag weight to be 10-15% of body weight for schoolchildren has not been adequate as it is mainly based on biomechanical and physiological factors, without considering interaction with other risk factors associated with the subjective nature of back pain believed to be affected by psychosocial and individual characteristics of people. This serves as the basis to believe that the recommendation may not be sufficient for prepubescent primary schoolchildren, who constitute little or no part in the research leading to the initial recommendation. This research therefore aimed at developing a holistic multifactorial backpack back pain model that will provide explanation for the complex and multiple interactions associated with the back pain problem among the children. The research used mixed methodological design that employed survey, observation and objective measuring tools to investigate and understand the backpack back pain problem. A total of 662 primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 years (primary year 1-6) took part in the study. Descriptive and correlation statistical techniques were used to identify significant association among the factors. Reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used for validating and reducing the variables into fitted constructs. Structural equation modelling was used for building and validating the model fit. Electromyography was used to establish the effect of age and body mass index on the trunk muscles of the children when carrying various weights corresponding to 5%, 10% and 15% of the body weight. The research established the insufficient nature of the 10-15% body weight for pain among primary schoolchildren. Most of the pain, load, anthropometric and physiological variables vary across age and racial groups. A multifactorial backpack back pain model consisting of anthropometry, pain, posture, backpack volume and rating ability was developed for better understanding of the relationship. A new safe weight recommendation based on percentage body weight and body mass index was made for the primary schoolchildren to reduce their chances of exposure to back pain. More longitudinal and control studies need to be conducted to identify appropriate percentage body weight suitable for different age groups

A holistic backpack back pain model for prepubescent primary school children

The present recommendation of the maximum bag weight to be 10-15% of body weight for schoolchildren has not been adequate as it is mainly based on biomechanical and physiological factors, without considering interaction with other risk factors associated with the subjective nature of back pain believed to be affected by psychosocial and individual characteristics of people. This serves as the basis to believe that the recommendation may not be sufficient for prepubescent primary schoolchildren, who constitute little or no part in the research leading to the initial recommendation. This research therefore aimed at developing a holistic multifactorial backpack back pain model that will provide explanation for the complex and multiple interactions associated with the back pain problem among the children. The research used mixed methodological design that employed survey, observation and objective measuring tools to investigate and understand the backpack back pain problem. A total of 662 primary schoolchildren aged 7-12 years (primary year 1-6) took part in the study. Descriptive and correlation statistical techniques were used to identify significant association among the factors. Reliability analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used for validating and reducing the variables into fitted constructs. Structural equation modelling was used for building and validating the model fit. Electromyography was used to establish the effect of age and body mass index on the trunk muscles of the children when carrying various weights corresponding to 5%, 10% and 15% of the body weight. The research established the insufficient nature of the 10-15% body weight for pain among primary schoolchildren. Most of the pain, load, anthropometric and physiological variables vary across age and racial groups. A multifactorial backpack back pain model consisting of anthropometry, pain, posture, backpack volume and rating ability was developed for better understanding of the relationship. A new safe weight recommendation based on percentage body weight and body mass index was made for the primary schoolchildren to reduce their chances of exposure to back pain. More longitudinal and control studies need to be conducted to identify appropriate percentage body weight suitable for different age groups

Unveiling the Impact of Strategic Sensitivity and Strategic Response on SME Performance Amidst COVID-19: Examining the Mediating Role of Innovation Capacity

Scholars recognize that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in promoting economic sustainable development for nations. Nevertheless, the SME sector has faced significant challenges due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in the global competitive environment, leading to a decline in their profits. Top of Form Bottom of Form This study, therefore, investigates the mediating influence of innovation capacity on strategic sensitivity, strategic response, and the performance of SMEs. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 405 participants. Data analysis was performed with the aid of Path Analysis- Structured Equation Modelling (PA-SEM). The study establishes that strategic sensitivity has a significant and positive impact on SME performance, as well as on innovation capacity. Strategic response also demonstrates a positive and significant relationship with SME performance. Innovation capacity emerges as the variable with the strongest positive relationship with SMEs performance. The study further reveals that innovation capacity partially mediates the relationships between strategic sensitivity and SME performance, as well as between strategic response and SME performance. This suggests that the positive impact of strategic sensitivity and strategic response on SME performance is partly driven by their influence on innovation capacity. The study advocates for investments in research and development, the cultivation of creativity, and the embrace of new technologies as key strategies for SMEs to achieve sustainable success

Pressure gauge accuracy and tire maintenance awareness among vehicle owners in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Aside from human factors, tire blowouts and other tire imperfections are major contributors to the persistently high road accident rate. While tire imperfections are categorized as part of the mechanical factors affecting road accident, the tire maintenance personnel and the vehicle owners' human behavior plays a significant role in ensuring that accidents due to tire imperfections are minimized. Therefore, this study aims to determine the accuracy of the pressure gauges used by tire maintenance personnel, popularly called vulcanizers in Nigeria, and to determine the level of awareness of vehicle owners about the basic information that affects the safe use of tires on the road.  The study consists of two stages. The first stage investigates the accuracy of the pressure gauges used by twenty vulcanizers in four different districts in Birnin Kebbi, the northwestern part of Nigeria. The second stage was an online survey regarding the tire maintenance behavior of 87 participants, who were formally educated from Diploma to Ph.D. level. The study's findings showed that about 25% of the vulcanizers do not use pressure gauges to measure air pressure during tire inflation, and less than 17% of the readings taken were accurate. Yet about 60% of the respondents believe that vulcanizers' pressure gauges are reliable and less than 30% of the respondents know that the expiring date of tires is four years in Nigeria. Therefore, there is an urgent need for proper awareness about tire usage and maintenance among the general population. It would also be appropriate to include such basic road safety information in the school curriculum at all levels

Development of a holistic backpack-back pain model for school children

Back pain among school children using backpacks is still a problem and generating interest from academia. Most research has been limited in scope. While some researchers carried out experimental investigations using biomechanical and physiological principles, others based their research on psychosocial issues. The inability to recognize the complexity of factors that affect this issue may explain why conflicting results have been obtained by different researchers. Presently, a general recommendation for a backpack weight of 10–15% of body weight has been accepted as a standard. But recent findings still indicate back pain among backpack users in schools. The purpose of this paper was to develop a holistic backpack-back pain model that is based on concurrent research, including: biomechanics, psychosocial and physiological factors. A systematic approach was taken in evaluating relationships among the various factors thereby proposing a model that can serve as a tool for evaluating contextual issues involving backpack design and use and back pain

Back pain arising from schoolbag usage among primary schoolchildren

This study employed multifactorial variables to determine the effect of schoolbag weight on the occurrence of back pain among primary schoolchildren and also determined the reliability and factorability of their survey responses. A total of 615 prepubescent children aged between 7 and 12 years with a boy to girl ratio of 2:3 participated in the study. Of these children, 205 were also selected for a test-retest to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The kappa coefficient was used to analyze dichotomous and nominal variables, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for the categorical variables. Correlation techniques were also used to investigate backpack-induced back pain problems. The test-retest revealed that dichotomous and demographic (k=0.7-1.0), psychosocial perception of pain (ICC=0.6-0.72) and backpack culture (ICC=0.6-0.78) variables all demonstrated good and high reliability. Variables associated with multiple responses, however, recorded low reliability value. The exploratory factor analysis also reveals six factors, of which only psychosocial perception of pain, individual rating ability and backpack culture accounted for more than 70% of the variance explained during the analysis. Both the subjective and objective variables revealed the significant effect of the children's heavy bag on their degree of feeling back pain (F(2,612)=3.72, p=0.02), neck inclination (F(2,166.15)=54.8, p<0.0001), back inclination (F(2,183.9)=60.92, p<0.0001), pulse rate (F(2,155.31)=4.07, p=0.019) and saturated oxygen (F(2,152.83)=5.95, p=0.003) were significantly associated with the weight of their schoolbags. The significant effect of age was also identified as the measuring variables were all negatively correlated with the children's age. Backpack-back pain intervention and awareness are still needed especially among the younger primary schoolchildren who are at greater risk of back pain from backpack usage. Relevance to industry: This research demonstrated that information about prepubescent children's perception and rating of pain are equally reliable as other objective measuring instruments. Younger children who carry greater loads face greater risk of back pain than older children

Interaction of body mass index and age in muscular activities among backpack carrying male schoolchildren

The complex and limited understanding of the interactions among multiple factors associated with back pain occurrence among schoolchildren might explain the current inconclusive and contradictory findings on the issue. The global increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, which reportedly affects children's physical abilities, calls for concern among school/children ergonomists and other stakeholders. The study investigated the interaction of body mass index (BMI) and age on the muscular activities, backpack height and perceived level of pain arising from carrying different weight of backpacks. METHODS: Surface electromyography analysis of erector spinae and trapezius muscular activities was conducted on 47 primary schoolchildren aged between 8 and 11 years. Repeated measure ANOVA were carried out on the data. RESULTS: There was significant difference in all the measures of muscular activities, backpack height and pain rating at different levels of backpack weight. However, the children were only significantly fatigable in the erector spinae muscles of the lower back and not in the trapezius of the upper back. The interactive effect of BMI was more pronounced than the children's age. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that it is not appropriate for all schoolchildren to have the same backpack weight limit and obese schoolchildren should carry a lower bag-to-body ratio of backpack weight. The younger children also need an appropriate bag surface-to-trunk ratio size of backpack as they were more affected by the position of the backpac

Anthropometric data reduction using confirmatory factor analysis

OBJECTIVE: The unavailability of anthropometric data especially in developing countries has remained a limiting factor towards the design of learning facilities with sufficient ergonomic consideration. Attempts to use anthropometric data from developed countries have led to provision of school facilities unfit for the users. The purpose of this paper is to use factor analysis to investigate the suitability of the collected anthropometric data as a database for school design in Nigerian tertiary institutions. PARTICIPANTS: Anthropometric data were collected from 288 male students in a Federal Polytechnic in North-West of Nigeria. Their age is between 18-25 years. METHODS: Nine vertical anthropometric dimensions related to heights were collected using the conventional traditional equipment. Exploratory factor analysis was used to categorize the variables into a model consisting of two factors. Thereafter, confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate the fit of the data to the proposed model. RESULTS: A just identified model, made of two factors, each with three variables was developed. The variables within the model accounted for 81% of the total variation of the entire data. The model was found to demonstrate adequate validity and reliability. Various measuring indices were used to verify that the model fits the data properly. The final model reveals that stature height and eye height sitting were the most stable variables for designs that have to do with standing and sitting construct. CONCLUSION: The study has shown the application of factor analysis in anthropometric data analysis. The study highlighted the relevance of these statistical tools to investigate variability among anthropometric data involving diverse population, which has not been widely used for analyzing previous anthropometric data. The collected data is therefore suitable for use while designing for Nigerian student

Effect of working posture on back pain occurrence among electronic workers in Malaysia

Back pain remains a major work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) and has caused loss in individuals’ workdays and organisations’ productivity. Hence, this study compares muscular activities of the trapezius and erector spinae muscles of the back, in order to identify the onset of fatigue among standing and sitting electronics workers in Malaysia. Surface electromyography was used to evaluate the muscular activities in 11 electronics assembly workers, made up of six males and five females, continuously for one hour. Two measures, mean power frequency and average electromyography were used to identify the difference. Both measures indicated significant difference between the upper back muscles of standing and sitting workers, and more muscular activities were observed among sitting workers than the standing workers. However, the reduction in frequency was not significant enough to show fatigue among both standing and sitting workers. Hence, organisations should provide short breaks after every hour to reduce WMSD, and improve general wellbeing of the workers