A study to compare the sagittal posture analysis for single sided and double-sided backpack users

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Backpack is a frameless form used to carry manual load/ any sort of equipment that distributes weight across the body and transferring more weight to hips and legs. The student wears the shoulder straps of the backpack on either single or double sides of the shoulder. Wearing backpacks on a single side differs from wearing the backpack on a double side. Methods of usage of backpack bring significant changes in postural alignment and muscle imbalance. Wearing backpack slung or strap over the single shoulder transverse all pressure to the shoulder where the backpack is placed. This results in strain on bones and muscles of the shoulder complex, so in this study is aimed to find the difference in sagittal posture analysis when single and double side backpack is been used. Materials and Methods: Sagittal posture analysis is a measurement taken from tragus of ear to greater tubercle of the humerus in sagittal posture in students wearing the backpack on a single side and double side. Measurement was taken with load and without load. The study was taken to compare whether there is a difference between wearing bags on a single side and double side by measuring sagittal posture. Measurement shows a considerable change in single-sided and double-sided backpack students and with load and without load. Results: Study revealed there is a significant change in single-sided backpack students. When the measurement was taken with bags, double-sided backpack students showed a simultaneous decreased measurement on both the right and left side. However, in single-sided backpack students, it showed a decrease in measurement on the side they used to wear the bags and an increased measurement on the opposite side of wearing the bags. Thus, wearing the backpack on a single side may lead to asymmetrical shoulder or postural changes. Conclusion: Prolonged wearing of bags in a single shoulder will lead to postural changes. When the postural alignment changes, it leads to over straining of shoulder muscles like deltoid, trapezius and back muscles. finally, this leads to back pain and neck pain. However, wearing backpacks on the double side evenly distributes weight to both the shoulder. Hence, it is advisable to wear bags on the double side rather than a single side. Keywords: Tragus of the ear; greater tubercle; postural alignment; muscle strain; deltoid; trapezius back muscles.