Determinants of musculoskeletal changes in adolescents: implications for prevention

Abstract

Introduction: The trend of increased incidence and prevalence of musculoskeletal changes has been considered a concern, especially in the adolescent age group, given its evolution to chronicity. In this context, this study has as main objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in adolescents; and identify a set of sociodemographic, anthropometric and circumstantial determinants associated with these same musculoskeletal changes. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive-correlational study was carried out using a simple random probabilistic sample composed of 200 adolescents who attend three schools in the municipality of Viseu, mostly female (52%), resident in (70.5%) and with a mean age of 12.54 years (Dp = 1.76). The data collection instrument incorporates 4 sections: sociodemographic, anthropometric, circumstantial characterization; and evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders, using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.
Results: Adolescents show musculoskeletal changes reported in the last 12 months, mostly at the neck (35%), followed by the shoulder 27.5%), ankle (26%), lumbar area (22.5%), knees (19.5%), wrist / hand (13%), hip (11%), thorax (10.5%) and finally, elbow (4.5%). As determinants of musculoskeletal disorders it was found that it is the adolescents who attend the 7th grade, male, who practice sports, with poor sleep quality, sleep on hard mattresses, with a backpack weight of more than 10% of body weight, who consider school furniture uncomfortable and with inadequate posture Bent spine, away from the chair, and hanging / stretched feet) that have a higher incidence of musculoskeletal disorders. On the other hand, the effect of age, place of residence, educational institution, health problems, locker use, home-school and home-school transportation, method of transport of school material and time spent on transportation of school material was not revealed statistically significant. Conclusion: This study evidences the idea that musculoskeletal disorders are present in a considerable group of adolescents, showing some determinants a significant effect, which allows to verify the need to develop prevention strategies in the school health area, where the intervention of health professionals in articulation with those of education can be decisive.