Does alteration in backpack load affects posture of school children?

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of backpack load on postural changes in school children who were carrying school bags. Materials And Methods: 87 normal healthy school children out of these 40 girls and 47 boys from CBSE school were tested in upright erect posture. Depending on % of schoolbag weight of their total body weight, they were divided into three groups - Group I-(<10%), Group II (10-20%) and Group III (20-30%) Postural angles such as Craniohorizontal(CHA),Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and shoulder saggital posture were measured in three groups. Results: With increasing schoolbag load from less than10% to 30% BW, CVA progressively increased significantly while CHA and shoulder saggital angle was decreased significantly as magnitude of backpack load increases. These results indicate a limitation on the ventilatory pump caused by load carriage which is directly related to the load carried and characteristic of restrictive disease of the respiratory system. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the increased forward head posture observed in children while carrying loaded backpacks are associated with backpack weight. The greatest differences were noted as the magnitude of backpack loads goes on increasing. Further analyses of the changes in forward head posture suggest that the condition as well as the weight of backpack loads markedly affect forward head posture and present a risk for neck pain in children.