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Short-term effects of backpack carriage on plantar pressure and gait in schoolchildren.
- Source :
-
Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology . Apr2015, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p406-412. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Purpose To assess the effects of backpack carriage on plantar pressure distributions and spatio-temporal gait parameters among children. Participants Two hundred-eighteen schoolchildren, aged 6–13, and attending primary and secondary schools in the city of Cagliari (Italy). Methods Participants were tested at school, during regular days. A pressure plate and wearable inertial sensors were used to measure plantar pressures and spatio-temporal parameters of gait. Measures were obtained during both quiet standing and walking, and both with and without a backpack. The latter contained those items a child had on the testing day. Results Participants carried a mean mass in their backpacks of 5.2 kg, and more than half had a backpack/body mass ratio higher than 15%. While spatio-temporal gait parameters were not affected by backpack carriage, significant increases (up to 25%) in plantar pressures were found during both static standing and walking, especially in the forefoot. Conclusion Under realistic conditions, the impact of backpack carriage was more evident on foot-ground interaction than on gait features. However, long-term consequences of altered plantar pressure need to be assessed in future work, considering the actual durations typically spent carrying school items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10506411
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 101498995
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.11.006