Backpacks Effect on Foot Posture in Schoolchildren with a Neutral Foot Posture: A Three-Year Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of data on the relationship between backpack use and foot posture in children. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a backpack on foot posture in children with neutral foot posture during three years of follow-up. Methods: A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted in a sample of 627 children with neutral foot. For each participant included in the study, age, sex, weight, height, body mass index, type of schoolbag (backpack or non-backpack), foot shape, metatarsal formula and type of shoes were recorded. Foot posture was described by the mean of the foot posture index (FPI) and reassessed after three years in a follow-up study. Results: The average age of the children was 8.32 ± 1.32 years. A total of 458 used a backpack when going to school. Over the three-year follow-up period, 50 children who had neutral foot developed supinated foot (n = 18) or pronated foot (n = 32). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that the children using a backpack were at a higher risk of developing pronated foot (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.05, 95% IC: 1.08–3.89, p = 0.028). Backpack use was not associated with the change from neutral foot to supinated foot. Conclusions: We found a positive association between using a backpack and the risk of developing pronated but not supinated foot. Clinical trials should be conducted to analyze the effect of backpack use on the foot among schoolchildren.

Quantifying the Dynamic Stability of Gait Patterns in People with Hallux Valgus

“…Dynamic stability can be estimated using the Lyapunov exponent [ 11 , 28 ]. The average logarithmic divergence rate for extremely close trajectories was quantified using the MLE in a reconstructed state space.…”

“…Previous studies have associated HV with foot pain, negative effects on body balance and gait patterns, and an increased risk of falls [10][11][12][13]. Furthermore, the deformation in the shape of the foot, caused by HV, affects the gait pattern.…”

Association between the Use of Backpack and Static Foot Posture in Schoolchildren with Static Pronated Foot Posture: A 36-Month Cohort Study

“…The method employed in this observational longitudinal and prospective study was similar to that used in a previous study carried out by our research group [ 32 ] according to the STROBE guidelines for reporting observational studies [ 33 ]. Therefore, this paper is a continuation of the previously published study [ 32 ] and was designed accordingly to the Declaration of Helsinki. The ethics committee of the University of Extremadura approved the study protocol (ID: 59/2012; Approval date: 26 May 2015).…”

“…March 2014 was the start date of recruitment. The inclusion criteria for our study are similar to the previously published study [ 32 ], except that the schoolchildren had to have an FPI score indicating static pronated foot.…”

“…In a previous study, the relationship of backpack use on static foot posture in schoolchildren with a neutral foot posture was investigated [ 32 ]. Over a follow-up period of 3 years, a positive association was observed between the risks of developing static pronated foot with backpack use in schoolchildren aged from five to eleven years with neutral foot posture.…”