Table 2 Description of intervention content and change strategies
| Content | Change strategies | |
|---|---|---|
|
Session 1. (Improvement of beliefs) | Benefits of healthy back behavior and back pain prevention. When having a backache, sitting, swimming, running, participating in physical education, cycling and lifting heavy objects are dangerous. | - Group discussion |
| - Role playing | ||
| - Recording pupils’ thoughts and experiences about back pain | ||
|
Session 2. (Improvement of knowledge) | A review of the anatomy of the spine focused on the three natural curves in the spine and the importance of maintaining an ‘S’ curve versus a ‘C’ curve during daily activity. Instruction of proper posture during sitting, standing, lifting a load, carrying a load, transferring a load; packing a backpack and correctly carrying a backpack. | - Lecture |
| - Brainstorm, Q & A | ||
| - Slides show | ||
| - Posters | ||
| - Pamphlets | ||
|
Session 3,4. (Improvement of skills) | Mastery learning and practical demonstration of the back care essential skills included: | - Direct experience |
| - Vicarious experience | ||
| 1- Backpack wearing techniques: |
- Demonstration, re- demonstration | |
| • Using 2 straps. | ||
| • Firming both straps to keep the pack above the waist. | ||
| • Balancing the load so the heaviest books are closer to the back. | ||
| • Not carrying more than 10% of the body weight. | ||
| 2- Maintain a neutral spine: | ||
| • Keeping the ‘S’ curve. | ||
| • Avoiding the ‘C’ curve for good posture. | ||
| 3- Lifting techniques: | ||
| • Keeping feet apart. | ||
| • Bending the knees and not waist. | ||
| • Keeping the load close to the body. | ||
| • Keeping the back straight. | ||
| • Pushing up with the legs. | ||
| 4- Carrying techniques: | ||
| • Keeping the load close. | ||
| • Bending the knees to set the load down. | ||
| 5- Balancing the load: | ||
| • Using 2 smaller bags instead of 1 large bag. | ||
| • Carrying items in both hands. | ||
| 6- Picking up a load from a Table: | ||
| • Pivoting or moving the feet, not twisting. | ||
| • Keeping the load close. | ||
| 7- Proper sitting posture: | ||
| • Sitting up straight. Avoiding slouching forward. | ||
| • Keeping both feet on the floor. | ||
| • Rolling side to side to feel the ‘sit bones’. | ||
| 8- Proper standing posture: | ||
| • Standing up straight like a stack of bricks. | ||
| • Lining up the ear – shoulder – hip – knee – ankle. | ||
| • Pulling in the belly button to tuck the hips in correctly. | ||
| • Rolling the shoulders back. | ||
|
Session 5,6. (Improvement of self-efficacy) | 1- Achieving back strengthening and flexibility exercises. | - Mastery experience |
| - Goal setting | ||
|
2- Attaining a natural curvature of the spine: • Keeping the ‘S’ curve. • Avoiding the ‘C’ curve for good posture. | - Social modeling | |
| - Improving physical and emotional states | ||
| 3- Minimal loading of the book bag. | - Verbal persuasion | |
| 4- Paying attention to ergonomically postures during sitting, standing, lifting a load, carrying a load, transferring a load, and carrying a backpack. |