analysis of anthropometric data on Iranian primary school children

Anthropometric data can be used to identify the physical dimensions of equipment, furniture, etc. The use of furniture that fails to fulfill the anthropometric data of its users has a negative impact on human health. Specific anthropometric dimensions are necessary to design school furniture. Anthropometric data have been measured in many communities especially among schoolchildren. There are different ethnic groups with probably different anthropometric data in Iran, and anthropometric data can change by time, so gathering data about anthropometric dimensions is important. This study was designed to obtain anthropometric dimensions of Iranian children [Fars ethnicity] aged 7-11 years. In a cross-sectional study in Yazd, Iran, descriptive statistics as well as key percentiles for 17 static anthropometric data of primary school students [1015 males and 1015 females], were measured and compared between boys and girls. The age of the students was between 6 and 11 years. Mean weight was between 21.56 +/- 5.33 kg and 36.63 +/- 9.45 kg in boys and between 20.79 +/- 3.48 kg and 35.88 +/- 9.40 kg in girls. Mean height was between 1187/02 +/- 53.98 mm and 1420.83 +/- 69.39 mm in boys and between 1173.90 +/- 51.01 mm and 1421.27 +/- 70.82 mm in girls. There was also some difference in other anthropometric data between two genders. Results of this study showed some differences in anthropometric data with other studies. We also observed significant gender differences in some dimensions as well

Backpack weight and musculoskeletal symptoms in secondary school students, Tehran, Iran

Increased complaints by school students about back and shoulder pain and discomfort have raised concerns among parents, education professionals, and orthopedists and these discomforts may be because of schoolbag carriage. The aim of this study was to investigate of relationship of musculoskeletal symptoms with weight of backpack in Tehran secondary school students. This cross-sectional study was performed in the city of Tehran in 2009. Two hundred thirteen students participated in study. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used, asking about complaints of back, neck, and/or shoulders. Length and weight of the children were determined. Schoolbags were weighed, and the relative weight of the schoolbag was calculated. Most prevalent musculoskeletal discomfort was in shoulders as 38.1%, neck 27.6% and back 16.7%. Average difference of weight of backpack in sample that had musculoskeletal with other samples was significant [P<0.05]. Weight of the backpack appears to be strongly related to the occurrence of shoulder, neck, back, and extremities complaints in students. Although musculoskeletal discomforts are believed to be multifactorial in origin, the carriage and manipulating of heavy backpack is signally a suspected factor and may represent an overlooked daily physical stress for secondary students

[Comparison of effect of EMLA cream and injection of methyl prednisolone acetate relief of pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome]

A standard treatment option for carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] is local injection of anesthetic-corticosteroid. This clinical trial was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of daily application of the EMLA cream with that of a single injection of methyl prednisolone acetate. This is a clinical trial which was performed in the clinics of Shiraz medical school in 1386. Sixty five participants with clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence of mild to moderate CTS were randomized to receive either the EMLA cream [group 1] or one injection [40 mg] of methylprednisolone acetate at wrist [group 2]. Visual analog scale was used to assess the patients' pain acuity. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software using Chi-Square test. Pain intensity before and after treatment and also 4 weeks after treatment in group A was 5.8 +/- 0.98, 0.7 +/- 0.82 and 2.1 +/- 1.2 and 5.7 +/- 1, 2.4 +/- 1.5 and 1.6 +/- 1.4 in group B. The differences in pain intensity in both group were significant [p<0.001]. EMLA cream was effective in reducing pain associated with CTS. It can be an effective, noninvasive symptomatic treatment for the patients with mild to moderate CTS