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Backpacks are an efficient way of manual carriage used by people of all ages, and is commonly used by schoolchildren. Carrying heavy backpacks may result in cumulative trauma later in life due to biomechanical adaptations during gait. Gait parameters are known to be sensitive to force vectors, which can be altered by load carrying. This study attempts to find the most favorable backpack weight using gait changes as an indicator. This was an observational study conducted on twenty typically developing boys aged between 9 and 14 years. Gait analysis was done using standard recommendations, with increasing backpack loads with respect to their body weights. Gait cycles were captured using video cameras and analyzed using Kinovea0.8.25 motion analyzing software. As the backpack load increased, significant kinematic changes were noted in the child's ankle, knee, and hip joints. These changes were evident when the backpack load increased beyond 15% of their body weight. This study concludes that the optimum weight that can be carried without having an impact on dynamic posture will be less than 15% of the body weight. • Significant changes were noted in all events of the gait cycle. • The proximal joints exhibited greater changes than distal joints with an increase in weights. • Maximum variation was observed when the load exceeded 15% of the body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In most developing countries, accessibility for people using walking aids is limited due to architectural and environmental barriers. As observed from anecdotal accounts, even a minor orthopaedic injury/disorder may restrict a person's ambulation due to fatigue associated with using walking aids. Hence this study was undertaken with the following objective. Objective to estimate the magnitude of energy consumption using energy expenditure index (EEI) during gait under different conditions. Design Repeated measures design (within subjects study). Setting School. Participants Ten healthy, typical young adults between 17 and 25 years of age. Outcome measure Energy Expenditure Index (EEI) was estimated for each of the conditions of the study using consistent measurement procedures. Results Energy consumption with immobilization is greater (ankle-16.2%, knee-36.7% and ankle and knee-49.2%) than typical self-selected ambulation. During on ground ambulation the energy cost was greatest for an axillary crutches than a standard walker with ankle and knee immobilized being the highest in relation to typical ambulation (78.2% greater). Axillary crutches were more efficient than a walker during stair climbing. Conclusion For young adults a standard walker may be the right option for over-ground ambulation, when a lower limb joint in immobilized; with an axillary crutch used during stair climbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]