Comparative Study of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Schoolchildren with Idiopathic Scoliosis and Without Scoliosis

PURPOSE: Chronic musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren due to school carry-on items is a recognized problem. There are suggestions that schoolchildren with scoliosis may be at higher risk for such pain.

METHODS: The present study of 140 schoolchildren aged 6.0 to 20.6 years compared the control group (103 children) and schoolchildren with idiopathic scoliosis (37 children). After obtaining parental consent, the test subjects filled out the questionnaire, and rated their chronic musculoskeletal pain using the Borg Pain Scale. Their height was measured, followed by their weight with and without carry-on items. The right calf and triceps thickness were then measured using a skinfold caliper, followed by the arm and shoulder strengths using the Jackson strength tester. The variables affecting chronic pain studied were: Body mass index; strength; % body weight carried; body fat; vitamin, mood, exercise and smoking status.

RESULTS: More than half the schoolchildren reported chronic musculoskeletal pain due to school carry-on items, primarily in the neck and shoulders. Chi-square tests show that, pain is statistically significant (p=0.0113), and decreases in the control group as the weight carried decreases, but is not completely eliminated. The z-Test shows that, scoliotics are at a higher risk for pain than the control group (p=0.0436). The Regression Analysis shows that chronic musculoskeletal pain due to school carry-on items, is not correlated with the variables studied (p › 0.14986). The backpack carry-on habits, exercise habits and vitamin intake are comparable between the two groups studied. Among children without pain, the control group was in a better mood than scoliotics. Among children with pain, the control children are twice as stressed as the scoliotic children, but the latter are five times as sad as the former. The scoliotics do not carry above 13.7% of their body weight compared to 28.4% for the control group. The shoulder strength of the scoliotics is significantly lower than the control group (a mean of 11.3 kg vs. 32 kg.). More than 10% of the schoolchildren are overweight and have non-optimal body fat. Scoliotics are four times as overweight and have non-optimal body fat as the control children.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with idiopathic scoliosis have a statistically significant higher risk for chronic pain; carry less weight to school; have lower arm and shoulder strengths; and are more sad, overweight and have non-optimal body fat; compared to schoolchildren without scoliosis.