(If you don't want to read the whole text, then scroll to the
bottom end to see the recommended way to carry backpack).
This is an essay written by me after attended a talk on "The
Backpack Generation: The best way to carry backpack".
I have gain many insights from the talk The Backpack Generation:
The best way to carry backpack I want to share with youall what I
have leant and hopefully you have some understanding the best and
right way of carry loads.
Backpacks are inevitable as many are using as a tool to carry
loads. Carry wrong type of backpack and wrong method of carry will
result in back problem for the spinal structure. It also causes
many musculoskeletal injuries.
Well first let me introduce to you the two most common tools of
carrying a load. They are backpack and sling bags. Well, backpacks
are so common nowadays because they are easy to use, very versatile
and are symmetrical. One major disadvantage of backpack is that
they exert strains on the shoulder, neck and lower back. Overall
sling bags are quite the same from backpacks, except that they are
asymmetrical (not symmetric) and it cause the all the load to one
side of the body. In long term, itll slant the spinal cord(S
shape).
Backpacks and sling bags affects our lives to a large extend. Load
carriage is an omnipresent phenomenon that is happening so commonly
around us and many people are using it everyday from students to
professionals and from shoppers to sportsman.
As what I have learned, the backpack loads has steadily increased
over the last few years. Most affected will be students because
they are required to carry more books to school. In Singapore, the
average backpack load is around 15 to 17% BW load. BW denotes for
bodyweight. It is a measurement in percentage of one-person
bodyweight. The reason is simple, 7kg load may seems reasonable for
an adult to carry but it will be too much for a primary school
kid.
According to one research conducted by American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most acceptable load to carry by
one person is 15%BW. While another research conducted by Chinese
University of Hong Kong (CUHK) showed that, the one should carry
around 10%BW load. From the results, it clearly shows that human
are not design to carry load far more than the recommended
range.
We everyday uses backpack as use it as a form of carrying loads.
Therefore, I feel that it is very important to examine the
different ways to carry school bags in order to minimize the damage
caused to the body.
The most recommended way of carrying a backpack is when the
distance between the line of gravity of the body to the centre of
the load is the shortest. I have learnt that cushioned backpacks
with vertical straps together with chest strap ARE the ideal type
of backpack to carry. It reduces the physical strain and stress to
the body in terms of musculoskeletal system. Best position to carry
load is between T5(nipple line) to T12 Thoracic vertebrae.
How backpacks really change our life? A survey done by Sheir-Neiss
GI, et al. on 1126 students may shed some lights to the
problem.
75% children find backpacks are heavy
65% report fatigue
50% Back pain
Recommended way:
Backpack with cushioned with vertical chest straps.
