Assessment of Effect of School Bag Weight on Postural and Musculoskeletal Health: A Comparative Study across Different Educational Boards in Western Maharashtra

Background: Studies have shown that students carry on average over 15% of their body weight, causing physiological changes in their growing bodies that could lead to developmental defects. Maharashtra is an educational sector in India with different educational boards with varied curricula, which indeed affects the school bag load. This study investigated the impact of varying school bag weights on students’ posture across different educational boards in Western Maharashtra. Methodology: This comparative study assessed the impact of school bag weight on 345 students (5 t h –8 t h standard) over 6 months using questionnaires and physical tests (Schober’s method, Neer’s method, and plumb line’s method) from different educational boards. Data on demographics, health, academics, and parental involvement were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software. Ethics approval and parental consent were obtained, ensuring confidentiality. Results: A study of 345 students (115 per board) showed significant interboard differences. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students had the highest mean bag weight (5.91 kg), exceeding IB (3.95 kg), and SSC (3.67 kg). CBSE also showed the greatest forward bending (mean = 18.54), indicating increased thoracic curvature, compared with SSC (mean = 16.17) and IB (mean = 14.54). Shoulder pain was reported by 11.4% of CBSE, 20.9% of SSC, and 39.5% of IB students (0.9% coronoid and 2.6% elbow). Plumb line analysis revealed increased thoracic curving in 38.3% CBSE, 45.2% SSC, and 22.6% IB and increased lumbar curving in 38.3% CBSE, 13% SSC, and 20.9% IB. Concentration was affected by bag weight in 13% CBSE, 16.5% SSC, and 17.4% IB. Parent assistance in packing bags was highest in SSC (69.6%), followed by CBSE (53.9%) and IB (53.0%). Conclusion: This study highlighted the marked differences observed across educational boards regarding the impact of school bag weight on student posture. This also emphasizes on the need for targeted interventions such as digital books and locker facilities. Future research should explore long-term effects and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.