EFFECTS OF BACKPACK DESIGN AND FATIGUE ON POSTURE IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine which hip bell/frame sheet combination reduced postural changes associated with load carriage in children. Thirty-six 10·12 year olds walked 1000m around a track in 3 randomly assigned hip belt and frame sheet conditions. Two strides were digitized at 100 and 900m with mean head and trunk angles, as well as posture across the gait cycle recorded. Hip belt and frame sheet design did not alter head flexion separately, but interaction between the design features indicated less compromise in posture with the Back Balancer. The solid and padded frame sheet reduced counterbalance of the weight in the trunk.