Effects of remote classes on the physical health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masaru Kanda, Hironori Suda, Yu Maeda and 2 others
PMID 38434996WHAT IT FOUND
Remote classes were linked to more new neck and back pain in students who sat on the floor compared to chairs.
Female students reported significantly more new symptoms and worsening of existing pain than male students.
Key findings
01Students who sat on the floor during remote classes reported a significantly higher rate of exacerbation of existing physical symptoms compared to those who sat on a chair.
02Female students reported significantly more physical symptoms and more exacerbation of existing symptoms than male students.
03There was no significant difference in the overall prevalence of physical symptoms between students who sat on chairs and those who sat on the floor.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study did not verify participants' ages, physical characteristics, medical history, or the severity of symptoms. Sitting posture, spinal alignment, total time spent sitting, and reasons for choosing a specific seat were not examined. All symptoms were grouped as general 'physical symptoms' without distinguishing between neck pain and low back pain. The cross-sectional survey design identifies associations but cannot prove that remote classes or floor sitting caused the symptoms.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a university research grant, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that floor sitting causes new pain. The study found no significant difference in the overall prevalence of new symptoms between chair and floor sitters, only that floor sitting was associated with worsening of pre-existing symptoms.