Effects on Body Posture and Gait Caused by Different Weights in the Backpack of University Students

Abstract

AbstractIt is believed that excessive loads in the backpack have a negative effect on the posture and on the gait of undergraduate students. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the cyclic gait of university students who carry different weights in the backpack. The study population consisted of female and male young adults (n = 6) with a mean age of 21 ± 2 years. The mean heights and weights for men were 1.75 ± 0.10 m and 65 ± 6 kg, and for women were 1.65 ± 0.05 m, 56 ± 10 kg. A smartphone camera was used to obtain images of the subjects walking, catching each phase of cyclic gait and, through the software Kinovea® and the MATLAB® mathematical software, the images were processed. By means of statistical methods such as One-way ANOVA and t-student test, an analysis of the possible effects on the cyclic gait and body posture was performed, taking as a reference the subjects’ normal body posture without carrying out weight on their back versus backpack loads based on different percentages of their body weights (BW). Significative differences between female and male subjects were founded, and these suggested that natural neck and hip angles are compromised differently in men and women.KeywordsBody postureBody weightCyclic gaitUniversity students