Effects of Backpack Carriage on Gait

Introduction:

Backpacks have become an indispensable part of contemporary life, serving as versatile storage companions for many purposes, spanning from academic essentials to outdoor equipment. Carrying a backpack evenly distributed over both shoulders is an efficient practice while opting for a single-sided carriage can perturb gait, equilibrium, posture, and overall biomechanical harmony.

Recognizing and comprehending these repercussions is paramount for researchers delving into ergonomics, healthcare professionals, and individuals keen on diminishing the likelihood of discomfort and injury associated with routine activities involving backpack usage. This article discusses the impact of backpack carriage on gait and proposes strategies for optimizing backpack utilization to foster healthy gait patterns and alleviate potential musculoskeletal complications.

What Is Gait?

Gait is a rhythmic motion of walking, yet deviations in gait may arise due to medical conditions or injuries. The gait cycle encompasses distinct phases:

• Heel Strike: Initiating the cycle, the leading foot's heel makes initial ground contact.

• Loading Response: The foot absorbs body weight, transitioning from heel to forefoot contact.

• Mid Stance: The foot lies flat, with extended ankle joints.

• Terminal Stance: As momentum shifts, the heel lifts, signifying the next phase.

• Swing Phase: The limb moves forward, preparing to leave the ground.

Conditions impacting the spinal cord, brain, legs, or feet can alter gait. Research indicates children should not carry more than 10 to 20 percent of their body weight in backpacks. A backpack can impede walking speed, compromise posture, and distort walking patterns.

What Are the Effects of Backpack Carriage on Gait?

According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), backpacks have been linked to numerous acute injuries. These injuries primarily stem from wearing, lifting, tripping over, being struck by, or removing the backpack. Common injury sites include the shoulder, wrist, elbow, face, head, back, foot, and ankle. The impacts of carrying a backpack on gait manifest as:

• Carrying a backpack may cause shifts in spinal alignment, especially when the weight distribution is uneven or the backpack is not worn properly. This can result in a forward-leaning posture or heightened spinal curvature, impacting one's walking pattern. Notably, alterations in activation levels were predominantly observed in the trapezius and erector spinae muscles (back muscles) across varying backpack weights.

• When individuals carry a backpack, they frequently modify both their stride length, the distance between initial and subsequent foot contacts, and width, the lateral distance between feet, to uphold stability and balance. Such alterations often result in broader width and reduced stride length, disrupting the natural rhythm of their walking gait.

• Excessive weight in backpacks does not just impact joints but can also lead to foot blisters. As individuals carry heavier loads, the pressure beneath their feet escalates. Research indicates heavier loads correspond to a greater contact area, particularly in the midfoot region.

• The presence of a backpack often restricts arm movement, leading to a noticeable absence of the natural swinging motion during walking. This absence can have a significant impact on coordination and balance.

• The substantial weight of backpacks results in heightened muscle engagement, particularly in the back and shoulders, thereby altering gait mechanics and inducing fatigue. Research has shown that children carrying approximately 30 percent of their body weight, even just once a week, have reported experiencing back pain and fatigue as a result.

• The weight and position of backpacks significantly influence head flexion, with individuals often bending forward accordingly. However, trunk flexion, referring to the forward bending of the upper body, and the lumbosacral angle, indicative of the lower back's angle, are primarily affected by backpack weight rather than its position.

• Numerous studies have demonstrated that wearing backpacks can alter an individual's walking pattern.

• The backpack's weight causes a shift in the body's center of mass, which impacts balance and stability while walking. This adjustment can disrupt the natural equilibrium, potentially leading to instability and a compromised walking experience.

• Carrying heavy backpacks can significantly amplify the strain on joints, particularly around the hips, ankles, and knees, potentially resulting in discomfort and musculoskeletal problems.

• Improperly fitted or excessively heavy backpacks can predispose individuals to injuries such as sprains and strains, as well as contribute to the development of long-term spinal issues.

In totality, the impact of carrying a backpack on one's walking pattern is contingent upon a multitude of factors, encompassing the weight and distribution of the load, the backpack's design, and each individual's unique biomechanics.

What Strategies Can Be Employed to Mitigate the Challenges of Gait When Utilizing a Backpack Carriage?

Various strategies exist to tackle the challenges of gait and uphold stability.

• For instance, studies indicate that adopting the rucksack position by wearing a backpack with both shoulder straps is the most effective method for carrying a load efficiently. Conversely, carrying the load on one shoulder or holding it in hand consumes more energy and proves less efficient. It is crucial to adjust shoulder straps properly to ensure even weight distribution.

• Opting for appropriate, comfortable, supportive footwear with good traction is essential for maintaining stability and reducing the risk of slipping or tripping while walking with a backpack carriage.

• Overstriding or taking excessively long steps should be avoided, as they can amplify strain on joints and muscles.

• Prolonged walking with heavy loads can lead to strain and fatigue; hence, taking regular breaks to rest and readjust the load is imperative.

• Utilizing poles or sticks while walking can provide supplementary stability when traversing uneven terrain.

• Upholding an upright posture is vital while walking with a backpack.

• Avoid excessive forward bending during walking.

• Running with a backpack containing more than 10 percent of the body weight should be avoided.

• It is advisable to carry the backpack over both shoulders instead of just one.

Conclusion:

The impact of backpack carriage on gait is contingent upon several elements, such as weight, distribution, and individual biomechanics. Employing well-fitted backpacks and conscientious carrying methods can mitigate adverse effects on gait and the likelihood of related musculoskeletal problems. Furthermore, disseminating knowledge on backpack ergonomics and raising awareness among frequent backpack carriers, particularly students and hikers, is pivotal in diminishing potential detrimental effects on gait and overall musculoskeletal well-being.