Abstract
Background The problem statement identified for this study concerns that to the researcher’s knowledge there have been no previous studies on the effect of backpack strap configurations on gait. Thus the present study is one of the first to investigate this topic, which is why the only variable that changes in this study is the strap configuration. The simple design and method of this study makes it easy to replicate and ensures that the data can be analysed with regards to whether the hip and/or chest strap has an effect on gait when compared to the control and traditional backpack conditions. Aim This study may aid in understanding how the configuration of backpack straps affects gait at a constant load. This may help provide postulating evidence of change of gait within the strap configurations and may lead to the need for further research on the matter. And additionally the results from this study may help improve backpack designs. Research methodology A quantitative, exploratory study was conducted, involving a sample of 50 participants between the ages of 18 and 35. The study was conducted as a single consultation where all the data was recorded by the Zebris FDM Gait Analysis System. The participants were required to walk across the measuring plate for 5 conditions. Namely: Control (no backpack), Traditional (2 shoulder straps), traditional with chest strap, traditional with chest + hip strap and traditional with hip strap. The backpack weight was maintained at approximately 10% body weight (BW) throughout the study. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics to analyse which backpack strap configuration had the most or least effect on gait, when compared to both the control and traditional conditions. Results The results of this study have shown that certain backpack strap styles do affect gait more than others. Most of the changes found in the spatiotemporal parameters were found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0,05) except for the stride time with regards to the chest + hip vi strap (p = 0,033), stride length for the hip strap (p = 0,025) and double stance phase for both traditional and chest + hip strap conditions (p = 0,029 and p = 0,039). The overall results of this study show that the chest strap has the most effect on the step width, the stride length increases with 10% BW backpack carriage regardless of strap configuration with the hip strap having the most effect. And finally that the double stance increases with 10% BW backpack carriage. Conclusion and recommendations It can be concluded that different backpack strap configurations affect gait in different ways. A summative result shows that the chest and/or hip strap combinations had the most effect The current study subsequently recommended that further research be done on this subject on various populations.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)