NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, August 26, 2026 — Reaffirming its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable community engagement, Walailak University (WU) entered the second consecutive year of its school health initiative at Wat Chonlatharam School, Tha Sala District. Led by the School of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Center for Academic Services, the project focuses on monitoring backpack weight and promoting ergonomic carrying habits among primary students (Grades 1–5).
Under the leadership of Asst. Prof. Dr. Phetcharat Boonruamkaew and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattikan Nokkaew, alongside pharmacy students, the initiative—certified by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Walailak University—conducted thorough physical and posture evaluations. Assessments included measuring backpack-to-body weight ratios, postural alignment, range of motion, muscle tone, flexibility, handgrip strength, and leg extension force.
The project team emphasized evidence-based guidelines, recommending that a student’s backpack should not exceed 10–15% of their total body weight to mitigate long-term musculoskeletal risks. Practical workshops on ergonomic bag packing and daily stretching routines were also delivered. The collected data will serve as a baseline to help the school institute long-term monitoring policies, directly advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being).
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