Changes in gait kinematics and posture with the use of a front pack

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if posture during gait can be affected by position of the load. It was hypothesized that the front pack would result in postural changes in the gait cycle, compared to a similarly loaded backpack. Thirteen healthy adults, free of any injury, volunteered to participate in this study. Two dimensional video data were collected at 50 Hz using a MacReflex video system. A backpack and a front pack were compared using loads of 10 and 15% of body weight. Markers were placed on the ear, acromion, greater trochanter and lateral joint line of the knee, lateral malleolus and fifth metatarsophalangeal joint. Data were collected while the participants walked at 0.75 stride/s. The data were used to calculate joint angles and displacements during each gait cycle. There was a significant difference noted in angles of the hip flexion, with the backpack condition demonstrating a greater flexion in each stride than either the control or front pack. Both backpack and front pack conditions demonstrated a significant change in neck motion compared to the control condition. The results of the position analysis over time also revealed an increase in the forward head position when participants were wearing the backpack compared to either the control or the front pack condition. It was concluded that the use of a front pack results in a more upright posture in gait, when compared to a backpack carrying the same load.

The effect of load distribution within military load carriage systems on the kinetics of human gait

“…It is reasonably well established that distributing load on both the anterior and posterior of the body reduces forward lean during load carriage (Kinoshita, 1985;Harman et al, 1994;Fiolkowski et al, 2006). Kinoshita (1985) suggested that the inclined posture adopted with a backpack system appears to facilitate forward advancement of the body, while the double-pack system inhibits this advancement.…”

The effect of short-term changes in body mass distribution on feed-forward postural control

“…A discrepancy between the COM control in different directions was also observed in the study of rapid arm movements, which showed that the pattern of anticipatory trunk muscle activity was consistent with control of the COM in the A/P direction and inconsistent with the COM control in the vertical direction (Hodges et al, 1999). Indeed, the literature reports the trunk or hip angles change in subjects carrying a backpack or front pack relative to changes in the head position or displacements of the COP (Chow et al, 2006;Fiolkowski et al, 2006). It was also described in the literature that the duration of the COP displacement, as well as the EMG activity is affected by the medial-lateral shifts of the COM associated with a leg raising task .…”

CHANGES IN HEAD & SHOULDER POSTURE OF COLLEGIATE STUDENTS CARRYING LAPTOP BAG AS SIDE PACK

“…Continuing work by the main author is investigating the effects on neck and shoulder musculature of such postural differences. Fiolkowski et al [20] found that there were less hip flexion and forwards head position when the backpack was carried anteriorly. An anterior shift in the centre of gravity of the head elicits the head and neck postural reflexes involving the vestibulocollic [21], cervicocollic [22] and cervical-facet mechanoreceptors.…”