Effect of Selected Backpack Loads Carried for Selected Durations on Temporal Pattern of Peak Forces of Walking Gait of School-Going Boys

Rabiya Husain, Dessalegn Wase Mola, Dhananjoy Shaw

Abstract


Background: Backpacks are vital for students, offering stability by being close to the body’s center of gravity. However, increased weight demands more energy and can lead to negative effects like altered gait, fatigue, and a higher risk of injuries. Understanding the impact of varying backpack loads and walking durations on peak forces during gait is essential for the health and well-being of school-aged children. Objective: The primary objective of the study was to observe the effect of varying backpack loads and walking durations on temporal patterns of the first and second peak forces during the gait cycle. Method: A total of eighty-five school-going boys, aged 10 to 12 years, were randomly selected as subjects for this study. A repeated-measures experimental approach was employed, utilizing a 5x5 study design. The subjects’ gait was analyzed under five different backpack loads: 0% (no additional weight), 8%, 12%, 16%, and 20% of their body weight. And walking gait duration was recorded at five different time intervals (experimental variables) of twenty minutes walking, that is, at zero-minute, at fifth minute, at tenth minute, the fifteenth minute and the twentieth minute of walking gait. The studied variables were, time elapse to get first peak force of the left, time elapse to get the first peak force of the right foot, time elapse to get the second peak force of the left foot, time elapse to get the second peak force of the right foot, average of time elapse to get first peak force of the left and right feet as well as average of time elapse to get second peak force of the left and right feet during the gait cycle. The Zebris FDM-S pressure plate, supported by Win FDM-S software, was used for data collection. Hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The analysis revealed that the selected variables were significantly influenced by the experimental variables, namely the varying backpack loads and the durations of carrying loads. The results indicate that both increasing backpack weight and longer carrying durations alter the temporal patterns of the first and second peak forces during gait. Conclusion: The findings suggest that varying backpack loads and walking durations have a significant impact on the temporal patterns of peak forces during the gait cycle in school-going boys. These results highlight the need for further studies to explore additional gait variables to better understand the full impact of backpack loads on children’s gait.

Keywords


Backpack Load, First Peak Force, Gait Analysis, Load-carriage, Second Peak Force, Time Elapses

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.12n.4p.48

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