<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Introduction. Many studies have compared different backpack designs and their influence on the carrier; however, no data referring to school students aged 7-8 years are currently available. Therefore, the aim of the research was to assess the influence of backpack design on centre of pressure (COP) displacement and plantar force distribution in children during an upright stance. Material and methods. Nineteen school students (9 males and 10 females) volunteered for the study. Two Polish backpacks intended for school use were evaluated: backpack A, which had two main compartments, and backpack B, which had one main compartment. The backpack load was composed of books, binders, and regular school equipment. During the measurements, the subjects were asked to look ahead with the head straight and arms at the sides in a comfortable position and to stand barefoot on the F-Scan® sensors (Tekscan, F-Scan®) attached to the force platform (Kistler), carrying a load corresponding to 10% of their body mass. Results. The study found insignificant differences between the two backpack designs. Moreover, COP parameters increased significantly during an upright stance while carrying backpack B in comparison to the empty backpack condition. Additionally, we observed significantly higher values of plantar force distribution in the heel region for the condition without load and insignificantly higher ones for carrying backpack A. Conclusions. The results of the current study suggest that the differences between the two backpack designs are too marginal to be detected through COP displacement. Disturbances in plantar force distribution suggest a lack of posture control and a lower stability of the standing position with a backpack, but these disturbances were significant only when the backpack with one main compartment was used.</abstract>

Introduction. Many studies have compared different backpack designs and their influence on the carrier; however, no data referring to school students aged 7-8 years are currently available. Therefore, the aim of the research was to assess the influence of backpack design on centre of pressure (COP) displacement and plantar force distribution in children during an upright stance. Material and methods. Nineteen school students (9 males and 10 females) volunteered for the study. Two Polish backpacks intended for school use were evaluated: backpack A, which had two main compartments, and backpack B, which had one main compartment. The backpack load was composed of books, binders, and regular school equipment. During the measurements, the subjects were asked to look ahead with the head straight and arms at the sides in a comfortable position and to stand barefoot on the F-Scan® sensors (Tekscan, F-Scan®) attached to the force platform (Kistler), carrying a load corresponding to 10% of their body mass. Results. The study found insignificant differences between the two backpack designs. Moreover, COP parameters increased significantly during an upright stance while carrying backpack B in comparison to the empty backpack condition. Additionally, we observed significantly higher values of plantar force distribution in the heel region for the condition without load and insignificantly higher ones for carrying backpack A. Conclusions. The results of the current study suggest that the differences between the two backpack designs are too marginal to be detected through COP displacement. Disturbances in plantar force distribution suggest a lack of posture control and a lower stability of the standing position with a backpack, but these disturbances were significant only when the backpack with one main compartment was used.

Effect of two Backpack Designs on Cop Displacement and Plantar Force Distribution in Children during Upright Stance

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education, Department of Biomechanics, 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Department of Theory and Technology of Sports Training 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Department of Foreign Languages3, 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Department of Uniformed Services and Combat Sports, 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Tourism and Health in Biała Podlaska, Department of Fundamentals of Physiotherapy 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, Department of Theory and Technology of Sports Training, 34 Marymoncka Street, 00-968 Warsaw,

Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Introduction. Many studies have compared different backpack designs and their influence on the carrier; however, no data referring to school students aged 7-8...

Effect of two Backpack Designs on Cop Displacement and Plantar Force Distribution in Children during Upright Stance

Data publikacji: 17 gru 2016

Zakres stron: 123 - 126

Otrzymano: 25 sie 2016

Przyjęty: 08 sie 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjst-2016-0015

Słowa kluczowe
backpack, plantar pressure distribution, balance, children

© by Andrzej Mastalerz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Effect of two Backpack Designs on Cop Displacement and Plantar Force Distribution in Children during Upright Stance

Data publikacji: 17 gru 2016

Zakres stron: 123 - 126

Otrzymano: 25 sie 2016

Przyjęty: 08 sie 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjst-2016-0015

Słowa kluczowebackpack, plantar pressure distribution, balance, children

© by Andrzej Mastalerz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Słowa kluczowe
backpack, plantar pressure distribution, balance, children