Evaluating the impact of a new ergonomic backpack designed on foot plantar pressure and perceived comfort by its users

  Inappropriate postures when carrying loads and heavy objects can result in physical problems and changes in the body's skeletal structure and pressure on the sole of the foot. Therefore, this study was to evaluate the foot plantar pressure and the perceived comfort of two new types of ergonomic and common backpacks. This study, which is semi- experimental, was performed on 20 female students aged 18 to 25 years. The PT-Scan Foot Scanner was used to measure the plantar pressure. The subjects, with the both types of backpacks, carried 10% of their body weight in walking, standing and balancing mode. After this stage, the perceived comfort of the backpacks was evaluated by using the Borg scale. The results showed that the difference in mean pressure of the foot between the two new ergonomic and common backpacks was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). But the average score of perceived comfort in the two parts of the waist and back pad, and the two new ergonomic and common backpacks while carrying was significant (p< 0.05). According the finding, the features used in the design of the new backpack did not show statistically significant effect on decrease the foot pressure, but it decreased of perceived exertion and improved the perceived comfort and maintained the posture in the back and back areas. Therefore, using this backpack model probably could reduce musculoskeletal disorders in these areas in the long time