Effect of the Usual Weight of a Backpack on Body Sway during Quiet Standing

• Grant number: 12/09509-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Aparecida Biasotto-Gonzalez
• Grantee: Daniela Aparecida Biasotto-Gonzalez
• Host Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Memorial. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify the effect on body sway during quiet standing of thehabitual weight carried by students in a backpack. [Subjects] Forty-six students between the ages of 8 and 14 yearsvolunteered. [Method] The percentage of body weight (% BW) of each student's backpack was calculated and thestudents were separated into three groups based on the results: Group A (07% BW), Group B (7.0114% BW) andGroup C (14.0121%BW). [Results] The use of the backpack increased the area of the CoP sway, displacement andmean speed of the CoP data in the antero-posterior and medial-lateral directions in Group C. [Conclusion] Therefore,observed responses in the body posture changes caused by the weight of the backpack were similar to thosereported in other studies conducted with different methodos of investigation. (AU)