Effects of backpack load on critical changes of trunk muscle activation and lumbar spine loading during walking

This study investigated the effects of carrying a backpack while walking. Critical changes featuring the disproportionality of increases in trunk muscle activation and lumbar joint loading between light and heavy backpack carriage weight may reveal the load-bearing strategy (LBS) of the lumbar spine...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ergonomics 2018-04, Vol.61 (4), p.553-565
Main Authors: Li, Simon S. W., Chow, Daniel H. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activation
backpack carriage
Backpacks
Body weight
Compression
Electromyography
Force plates
Goal programming
Knee
load-bearing strategy
lumbar joint loading
Muscle contraction
Peak load
Space life sciences
Spine
Spine (lumbar)
Trunk muscle activation
Trunk muscles
Weight reduction
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study investigated the effects of carrying a backpack while walking. Critical changes featuring the disproportionality of increases in trunk muscle activation and lumbar joint loading between light and heavy backpack carriage weight may reveal the load-bearing strategy (LBS) of the lumbar spine. This was investigated using an integrated system equipped with a motion analysis, a force platform and a wireless surface electromyography (EMG) system to measure the trunk muscle EMG amplitudes and lumbar joint component forces. A predictive goal programming model was developed to determine the most critical changes in trunk muscle activation and lumbar joint loading. Results suggested that lightweight backpack carriage at approximately 3% of body weight (BW) might reduce the peak lumbosacral compression force by 3% during walking compared with no load condition. The most critical changes in both trunk muscle activation and lumbosacral joint loading were found at a backpack load of 10% of BW. Practitioner Summary: This study investigated the effects of backpack load on the LBS of lumbar spine while walking. A backpack load of 3% of BW might reduce the peak lumbosacral compression force by 3 and 10% of BW induced the most critical changes in LBS of lumbar spine.
ISSN:0014-0139
1366-5847
DOI:10.1080/00140139.2017.1365950