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Short-term effects of backpack carriage on plantar pressure and gait in schoolchildren.
- Source :
-
Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology [J Electromyogr Kinesiol] 2015 Apr; Vol. 25 (2), pp. 406-12. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Dec 03. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Purpose: To assess the effects of backpack carriage on plantar pressure distributions and spatio-temporal gait parameters among children.<br />Participants: Two hundred-eighteen schoolchildren, aged 6-13, and attending primary and secondary schools in the city of Cagliari (Italy).<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br /> (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-5711
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25499084
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.11.006