Kinematic changes of body alignment resulting from backpack weight, location and carrying duration in 10 to 12 years old boy schoolchildren

Background & Backpack as one of the most common equipment used by children and adolescents has been to the attention of health researchers as a growing concern, because of different aspects included; design and shape, carrying position, weight, duration of transport and its effects on the spinal column. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of weight, location and the time of carrying the backpacks on the angular variations of elementary students’ body.
This study was a quasi-experimental research. The sample survey was 25 boy students with age range of 10-12 years old. Sagittal view photographical method was used to evaluate the kinematic changes of body. Measured outcomes including; the cranial horizontal angle (CHA), craniovertebral angle CVA), sagittal shoulder posture angle (SSPA), Trunk angle (TA) and lower limbs angle (LLA), respectively. Repeated measure ANOVA was used for data analysis.
Results indicated that significant changes occurred in CHA, CVA and TA when the backpack was loaded to 15% of body weight (p According to the research findings can be states that; for the 10 to 12 years old boy students, the best weight of the backpack is less than 10% of their body weight, the best location of the backpack is in the lower of spine (L3) and prolonged walk with backpacks can cause destructive postural Changes.