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Background: Heavy schoolbag is known to cause health problems for school children. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of carrying heavy schoolbags on the musculoskeletal pain among primary school children of the two subsystems in Yaounde, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in primary schools in Yaounde. A total of 457 school-children (8.2 ± 2.2 years) were included, 202 from the French-speaking subsystem, and 255 from the English-speaking subsystem. Parameters studied included weight, height, and schoolbag weight. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and potential musculoskeletal pain in three regions: back, shoulders, and neck. Results: The mean weight of children and their bags was 28.4 ± 8.2 kg and 5.2 ± 2.3 kg respectively. More than 50% of schoolchildren in the two subsystems carried a schoolbag weighing more than 15% of body weight. The back (38%) was the least affected area in comparison to the shoulders (58.6%) and neck (42.4%) (p < 0.001). Carrying heavy bags and walking to school was associated with pain in the back, shoulders, and neck. School-children in the French-speaking subsystem had lower risk (adjusted Odds Ratio 0.438, 95% CI = 0.295-0.651; p < 0.001) to develop a sore neck compared to peers from the English-speaking subsystem. Conclusion: Carrying heavy schoolbags is associated to musculoskeletal pain in schoolchildren. The means moving to and from school is a main risk factor of developing musculoskeletal pain. French-speaking schoolchildren develop less neck pain than English-speaking schoolchildren.

Background Musculoskeletal pains (MSPs) in sport are cause of poor performances and loss of competition in athletes. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of MSPs in relation to sport disciplines and athletic status. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 Senegalese professional and amateur athletes practicing football, basketball, rugby, tennis, athletics, and wrestling. Rates of MSPs were assessed in a year (MSPs-12) and a week (MSPs-7d) using standard questionnaires. Results Overall proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d were 70% and 74.2%, respectively. MSPs-12 were most frequently reported on shoulders (40.6%), neck (37.1%), and hips/thigh (34.4%) while MSPs-7d were predominant on hips/thigh (29.5%), shoulders (25.7%), and upper back (17.2%). Proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d were significantly varied by sport disciplines, with highest values in basketball players. Again, MSPs-12 proportions on shoulders (29.7%, P = 0.02), wrists/hands (34.6%, P = 0.001), (40.2%, P = 0.0002), and knees (38.8%, P = 0.002) were highest in basketball players. Highest proportion estimates for MSPs-7d were seen on shoulders (29.6%, P = 0.04) for tennis players, wrists/hands (29.4%, P = 0.03) for basketball and football players, and hips/thigh (38.8%, P < 0.00001) for basketball players. Football players had reduced risk of MSPs-12 on lower back (OR = 0.25; 95% CI. 0.10–0.63; P = 0.003) and knees (OR = 0.28; 95% CI. 0.08–0. 95; P = 0.04). In contrast, tennis players were more at risk of MSPs-12 on shoulders (OR = 3.14; 95% CI. 1.14–8.68; P = 0.02), wrists/hands (OR = 5.18; 95% CI.1.40-11.13; P = 0.01), and hips/thigh (OR = 2.90; 95% CI. 1.1–8.38; P = 0.04). Professionals were protected from MSPs-12 on neck pain with a significant reduction of risk by 61% (OR = 0.39, 95% CI. 0.21–0.75, P = 0.03). Conclusion MSPs are a reality among athletes and are related to sport disciplines, athletic status, and gender.

Background living areas in developing countries impacts seriously lifestyle by the increase the consumption of energy-rich foods, less energy expenditure and sedentary behaviors. Urbanization is also associated with less practice of physical activity (PA) which is considered as the leading cause of metabolic syndrome (MetS) which MetS prevalence vary in African countries. The present study aimed to assess the effect of PA on MetS according to urbanization in the littoral region in Cameroon. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three geographical settings (urban, semi-urban, and rural) in the littoral region in Cameroon. A total of 879 participants was included (urban: 372, semi-urban: 195 and rural: 312). The MetS was defined according to the International Federation of Diabetes 2009. The level of PA was assessed using the Global physical activity questionnaire. Results Low level of PA was (P < 0.0001) reported in urban (54.5%), semi urban (28.7%) and rural (16.9%) and high in rural area (77.9%). The prevalence of MetS was higher in urban areas (37.2%) follow to the rural (36.8%) and the semi-urban (25.9%). Hyperglycemia (p = 0.0110), low HDL-c (p < 0.0001) and high triglyceridemia (p = 0.0068) were most prevalent in urban residents. Participants with low level of PA were at risk of MetS (OR: 1.751, 95% CI: 1.335–2.731, p = 0.001), hyperglycemia (OR: 1.909, 95% CI: 1.335–2.731, p = 0.0004) abdominal obesity(OR: 2.007, 95% CI : 1.389-2.900, p = 0.0002), low HDL-c (OR: 1.539, 95% CI : 1.088–2.179, p = 0.014) and those with moderate level of PA were protected against high blood pressure(OR : 0.452, 95% CI: 0.298–0.686, p = 0.0002) and compared to those with high level of PA. Urban dwellers had 1.708 great risk of MetS compared to rural residents, urban was also at risk of hyperglycemia (OR: 1.611, 95% CI : 1.170–2.219, p = 0.003) and protected against high blood pressure (OR :0.314, 95% CI :0.212–0.466, p < 0.0001), Abdominal obesity (OR : 0.570, 95% CI : 0.409–0.794, p = 0.0009), and Low HDL-c (OR : 0.725, 95% CI: 0.534–0.983, p = 0.038) compared to rural residents. Conclusions MetS was more prevalent in urban dwellers and was associated with a low level of PA.

Background Musculoskeletal pains (MSPs) in sport are cause of poor performances and loss of competition in athletes. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of MSPs with regard to sport disciplines and athletic status. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 Senegalese professional and amateur athletes practicing football, basketball, rugby, tennis, athletics, and wrestling. Rates of MSPs in the past year (MSPs-12) and week (MSPs-7d) were assessed using standard questionnaires. Results Overall proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d were 70 and 74.2%, respectively. MSPs-12 were more frequently reported on shoulders (40.6%), neck (37.1%) and hips/thigh (34.4%), while MSPs-7d were predominant on hips/thigh (29.5%), shoulders (25.7%), and upper back (17.2%). Proportions of MSPs-12 and MSPs-7d varied significantly by sport disciplines, with highest values among basketball players. Again, highest MSPs-12 proportions on shoulders (29.7%, P = 0.02), wrists/hands (34.6%, P = 0.001), (40.2%, P = 0.0002), and knees (38.8%, P = 0.002) were seen among basketball players. High proportions of MSPs-7d were seen on shoulders (29.6%, P = 0.04) for tennis players, wrists/hands (29.4%, P = 0.03) for basketball and football players, and hips/thigh (38.8%, P < 0.00001) for basketball players. Football players had reduced risk of MSPs-12 by 75% on lower back (OR = 0.25; 95% CI. 0.10—0.63; P = 0.003) and by 72% on knees (OR = 0.28; 95% CI. 0.08—0. 95; P = 0.04). In contrast, tennis players were more at risk of MSPs-12 on shoulders (OR = 3.14; 95% CI. 1.14–8.68; P = 0.02), wrists/hands (OR = 5.18; 95% CI.1.40–11.13; P = 0.01), and hips/thigh (OR = 2.90; 95% CI. 1.1–8.38; P = 0.04). Professionals were protected from MSPs-12 on neck pain with a significant reduction of risk by 61% (OR = 0.39, 95% CI. 0.21–0.75, P = 0.03). Conclusion MSPs are a reality among athletes and their risk is modulated by sport disciplines, athletic status and gender.