The school environment is an external factor that can contribute to the development of osteomyoarticular disorders, especially in children and adolescents, as it corresponds to the period of bone structure development; these changes can lead to orthopedic and rheumatologic diseases, increasing the number of surgical corrections if not detected early.
In most schools, the construction of furniture does not take into account the anthropometric dimensions of users of different age groups.
This situation leads students to adopt inappropriate postures in the classroom, especially in reading and writing tasks, where they spend most of their time.
The adoption of an inappropriately seated posture causes greater fatigue in the musculature, as well as causing greater pressure on the intervertebral discs and spinal ligaments.
In addition to the inappropriate postures adopted by students at school, excessive weight and the way the school bag is transported are also factors that can contribute to the development or aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders.
The effect of backpack weight on posture in children and adolescents should be more carefully evaluated, as there are laws that protect workers from carrying heavy loads, but there is no law that prohibits children from carrying excessive loads. and adolescents, whose consequences can include postural changes and spinal pain, and several studies have found that the presence of back pain in young people is related to back pain in adulthood.
The Physiotherapist working in the area of School Health can streamline activities such as workshops on Postural Education, including a brief explanation of the anatomy of the spine, transport of weights and school backpack, correct ways to sit, sleep, watch TV and play consoles, in order to make the entire school community aware of the problems of bad posture; promote the performance of physical and postural assessments, referring or treating students who have some osteomyoarticular disorder, and should also teach and encourage the regular practice of exercises and specific stretching and relaxation techniques.
The Jean Piaget School of Health in Algarve has developed Health Education Sessions for Basic and Secondary education students within this theme.
Health literacy determines access to information and comfort, with the ability to negotiate the health care system.
Measures aimed at increasing health literacy are important in the development of personal and social empowerment, contributing to the individual with osteomyoarticular disorders to be able to identify and become aware of their own health needs and to develop the appropriate skills so that be able to carry out the actions that will generate changes in lifestyle and healthier environments.
These sessions for education were carried out by students from the study cycle in Physiotherapy, as part of the acquisition of skills required in curricular internships and in curricular units.
In addition to the Health Education Sessions, since 2007 postural assessment screenings have been carried out, giving rise to several publications in scientific journals and congresses. So far, more than 1000 students from the Algarve region have been evaluated.
These surveys showed a high prevalence of adolescents with postural alterations in the Algarve.
In 2012, some students were flagged as having undergone treatment using postural correction exercises.
Author: Beatriz Machado, master in the field of Physiotherapy and coordinator of the degree in Physiotherapy at the Jean Piaget de Silves School of Health
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