A study carried
on musculoskeletal health among urban poor pupils in Western India by Colorss’
Foundation research division, Risachi, has been published in the International
Journal of Management and Behavioural Sciences, IJMBS.
The acclaimed
study, the very first to be conducted in India, was the initiative and hard
work of two researchers: Pavithra Rajan, a community physiotherapist and Anand
Koti, the founder of the Colorss Foundation.
According to the
article co-authored by Rajan and Koti, bad postures and ergonomics –the study
on how things interact with the human body – are prevalent during adolescence and
earlier studies have shown that this could lead to musculoskeletal aches and
pains in later life. To back this hypothesis – idea, a pilot study was carried
out across selected urban slums in India. Using focus group discussions and a
set of practical controlled school activities, the findings obtained, confirmed
that this undervalued problem does exist.
During the study
carried out in July 2012 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, school children in urban
slums were sampled and congregated into two separate groups based on gender for
focus group discussions. Information gathered from these group discussions were
used as base to design two research tools further used to assess the ergonomics
of boys and girls in schools in five different activities. The activities range
from reading a book, to lifting books from floor level, to sitting on a chair, to
carrying a backpack, to using a computer. Data collected from each activity and
compared with others all show that these activities actually caused maximum
discomfort to most of the children.
Effects of musculoskeletal health problem
Interpreting the
results, Rajan and Koti, found out that out of the 64 children who participated
in the controlled study, 17 experienced musculoskeletal pains around the lower
back, ankle and foot, knee and at the neck as well. Referring back to an
earlier study conducted elsewhere on musculoskeletal health, the two
researchers noted that musculoskeletal pain in this group – adolescence had
been identified as a major public health problem and could be one of the causes
of school absenteeism. In further analysis it was also discovered that some of
the children could not take part in some activities at school simply as a
result of this musculoskeletal ache and pain.
Before
concluding the study sponsored by some individuals of goodwill and assisted by volunteers,
Rajan and Koti stressed that it is important to plan cost effective and
preventive strategies to bridge the problem from manifesting in this juvenile
population who they say are equally the pillar of the future of India. Such
strategies, according to them, may reduce the cost of treatment of
musculoskeletal aches and pain on India’s health system that is already
overburdened by other health issues.
After this
groundbreaking publication, the Risachi research team has been burning the
candles at both ends working on other big projects. So far, another research
work has been approved and is due for publication in June 2013. The research
teams also have plans to extend more projects on musculoskeletal health across
India, but are relying heavily on the kind contributions from donors as well
volunteers, especially students to join them carry out research on a vast
scale.
At the moment Risachi projects are sponsored by individual donors, but
Rajan and Koti are optimistic that donor organisations and individual donors would soon come on board
as more and more research work get published. Support us and donate to make us strong. Contact us
Full report of this
research paper can be read on the link below:
For Love,
Mizuh Mbah
2 comments:
This kind of research is very important in order to know about the children and adolescent absenteism at schools and then work with public health policies. May God prepare the way for new researches on a vast scale, since this kind of science is really fundamental to know about the young health conditions and prevent the pain, deseases and orthopaedics problems. It is the only way to prevent other worst health problems and the health costs. These are the ones of the most important issues in doing researches!!! God bless you all at Colorss! Prof. Rosana ZM
Many thanks Prof. Rosana.. We are now addressing this issue and have created a new project. This research led project is the need of hour. As mentioned by you its the only way to prevent other worst health problems and health costs. Thank you for your continued support.
Regards. Anand
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