ABSTRACT
Objective: In 2016, Japan started conducting musculoskeletal examinations that included “limb status” of students as an essential item. Our institution implemented a unified musculoskeletal examination for all public elementary and junior high schools in T-city. In this study, we aimed to report the progress in the past 4 years.Patients and Methods: The Tsukuba Childhood Locomotive-Organ Screening Sheet (T-CLOSS), which is a questionnaire that includes some nationwide-recommended questions, was prepared and distributed to students. Results of the questionnaires were analyzed, and the orthopedic surgeon conducted examinations for the extracted items. From these questionnaires, the ratio of each item, rate of advisory for screening, and content of the advisory were investigated.Results: During 2016–2019, musculoskeletal examinations were conducted in every public schools, with nearly 20,000 students in T-city. The consultation advisory rate was 6.7% in 2019. Of the 524 students who received the third screening recommendation, the actual consultation rate was 248 (40.8%). After the third screening, the proportion of students requiring treatment and outpatient visits was 46.7% (n=248), which accounted for 1.2% of all elementary and junior high school students in the city.Conclusion: We reported the results of 4-year musculoskeletal examinations in a city. In our screening, we distributed a uniform questionnaire throughout the city, and orthopedic surgeons performed secondary examinations of identified students in all schools. This appears to be an advanced effort to prevent musculoskeletal impairment in students. We hope to conduct more sophisticated musculoskeletal examinations using our results, aiming at early detection, early treatment, and improvement of musculoskeletal function in elementary and junior high school students.
ABSTRACT
Background: In Japan, in 2016, the School Health and Safety Act was revised and examination of extremities in addition to scoliosis became mandatory. Musculoskeletal examinations were subsequently started using a mark sheet-type questionnaire. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between physical findings and musculoskeletal problems and propose a preventive strategy for musculoskeletal injuries.Methods: In 2017, a total of 4,073 elementary and middle school students underwent direct musculoskeletal examination. In a direct examination, the following elements were included: torticollis; scoliosis; stiffness of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle; flexion and extension in standing position; flat foot; hallux valgus; and alignment of the upper and lower extremities. Of the 4,073 students who underwent direct examination in early 2017, only 3,754 were able to complete the mark sheet-type questionnaires in early 2018. A prospective longitudinal analysis of the data gathered was performed.Results: A total of 396 (11%) students had injuries. The ankle sprain/non-ankle sprain group comprised 119 (3%)/3,635 (97%) students, while the fracture/non-fracture group comprised 105 (2.8%)/3,650 (97.2%) students, respectively. Comparing the sprain group with the non-sprain group, ankle stiffness significantly correlated with ankle sprain in the univariable and multivariable analyses. Injuries occurred more frequently among boys, older students, students with stiff bodies, and students who were involved in sports activities of longer duration.Conclusion: Ankle stiffness was assumed to be a risk factor for ankle sprain. Stretching of the ankle might be effective for preventing ankle sprain. However, further interventional studies are needed to confirm this finding.