Effect of temporary school closure due to COVID-19 on musculoskeletal function in elementary school children

• Nakajima Ryoichi

  Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan Center for Sports Medicine and Health Science, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Japan

• Kamada Hiroshi

  Center for Sports Medicine and Health Science, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Japan Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Kasai Taishu

  Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Tomaru Yohei

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Waku Miki

  University of Tsukuba Sports Association, Japan

• Yamaki Ayano

  Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Ban Atsuhiko

  Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences Master’s Program in Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Miyakawa Shumpei

  Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Yamazaki Masashi

  Center for Sports Medicine and Health Science, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Japan Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan

• Shiraki Hitoshi

  Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Abstract

Objective: In 2020, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) became the cause of a pandemic. In response, the Japan Sports Agency issued warnings about secondary damage to health, such as the threat to physical and mental well-being due to the lack of exercise in this situation. In this study, we report on cross-sectional and longitudinal examinations of standing trunk flexion to evaluate how temporary long-term school closures affected musculoskeletal function in elementary school students. Patients and Methods: All children in one public elementary school in T-city during the school years 2019 and 2020 were included in this study. A digital forward flexion meter was used to measure standing trunk flexion. Results: In this study, 284 (284/289: 98.3%) and 266 (266/274: 97.1%) children in school years 2020 and 2019, respectively, were found to have valid data for cross-sectional analysis. The standing trunk flexion did not show significant differences between grades or sexes. In the longitudinal analysis, the results of the comparison of standing trunk flexion in children for two consecutive years revealed significant differences only between grades 3 and 4 (P<0.05) and between girls in grades 3 and 4 (P<0.01), but no significant differences in other grades or among boys or girls were observed. Conclusion: Initially, we expected that there would be a difference in the results of functional assessment using standing trunk flexion depending on the period of absence from school. However, the results of this study showed no significant changes in standing trunk flexion. Moreover, since children’s musculoskeletal functions may be affected by various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic, they should be carefully monitored in the future.

Journal

• Journal of Rural Medicine

  Journal of Rural Medicine 16 (3), 154-159, 2021

  THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MEDICINE

Keywords

• standing trunk flexion
• COVID-19
• children
• school closure

Details

• CRID: 1390288547260259072
• NII Article ID: 130008060638
• DOI: 10.2185/jrm.2021-006
• ISSN: 18804888
• ISSN: 1880487X
• Web Site: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jrm/16/3/16_2021-006/_pdf
• Web Site: https://search.jamas.or.jp/link/ui/2022112661
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed