Walailak University Visits Thasala for “Ergonomic School Bag” Campaign to Promote Bone and Muscle Health in Youth Pilot Project Launched at Wat Chonlatharam School, Nakhon Si Thammarat

Walailak University Visits Thasala for “Ergonomic School Bag” Campaign to Promote Bone and Muscle Health in Youth Pilot Project Launched at Wat Chonlatharam School, Nakhon Si Thammarat

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Led by Assistant Professor Dr. Phetcharat Boonruamkaew and Assistant Professor Dr. Natthakan Nokkaew from the School of Pharmacy, Walailak University, the team has moved forward with its second consecutive year of community academic service. Invited by the Center for Academic Services, the project titled “Checking School Bag Weight and Organization: Educating Students on Proper Bag Selection and Usage” aims to promote long-term health and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in children.

This project, which has received Human Research Ethics certification from Walailak University, conducted its first field operation at Wat Chonlatharam School in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. The comprehensive program included history taking, evaluating bag weight relative to the student’s body weight, practical workshops on bag selection, and close follow-up monitoring.

The initiative focuses on assessing flexibility, range of motion, and musculoskeletal strength in students from Grades 1 to 5. This age group is in a critical stage of physical development and requires proper support for bone and muscle health. Key health assessment and educational activities included:

  • Physical Assessment: Evaluating posture using video media and analysis applications to assess the range of motion of the neck and lower back, muscle tension, flexibility, grip strength, and leg strength.

  • School Bag Education: Providing safety guidelines, emphasizing that the weight of the bag should not exceed 10–15% of the child’s body weight.

  • Packing Techniques: Teaching weight balance by placing heavy items closest to the back and lighter items toward the outside.

  • Muscle Care: Teaching stretching exercises via information pamphlets to help relieve aches and pains caused by carrying heavy bags.

This project reaffirms Walailak University’s role in applying academic knowledge to support sustainable youth health development in the local area. This aligns with the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being) and fulfills the university’s core mission of being a true “University for Society.”