Article

Backpacks lead to poor posture due to the posterior placement of the load, which
overtime may contribute to low back pain and musculoskeletal complications. This
study examined postural and load distribution differences between a traditional
backpack (BP) and a nontraditional backpack (BTP) in a young adult population.
Using a 3D motion analysis system, 24 healthy young adults (22.5 +/- 2.5 years,
12 male) completed both static stance and walking trials on a treadmill with No
Load and with 15% and 25% of their body weight using the two different backpacks.
There was a significant difference in trunk angle, head angle, and lower
extremity joint mechanics between the backpack and load conditions during walking
(p<.05). Notably, relative to the No Load condition, trunk angle decreased
approximately 14 degrees while head angle increased approximately 13 degrees for
the BP 25% state on average. In contrast, average trunk and head angle
differences for the BTP 25% state were approximately 7.5 degrees and 7 degrees ,
respectively. There was also a significant difference in head angle from pre- to
post-walk (p<.05) across backpacks, loads, and time. Taken together, the results
indicate that the BTP more closely resembled the participants' natural stance and
gait patterns as determined by the No Load condition. The more upright posture
supported by the BTP may help reduce characteristics of poor posture and,
ideally, help to reduce low back pain while carrying loads.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS