Effects of backpack and double pack loads on postural stability

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 537 - 547
• Main Authors: Li, Simon S. W., Chan, Otto H. T., Ng, T. Y., Kam, L. H., Ng, C. Y., Chung, W. C., Chow, Daniel H. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.04.2019; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Back - physiology; Backpacks; Balance; Body weight; Emergency medical services; Female; heavy load carriage; Humans; Injury prevention; Load; Load distribution; Load distribution (forces); Loads (forces); Male; Physical training; Postural Balance; postural stability; Posture; Rehabilitation; Search and rescue; sensory organisation test; Space life sciences; Stability; Stress concentration; Vestibular system; Walking; Walking - physiology; Weight-Bearing; Young Adult; Young adults; Load distribution; heavy load carriage; postural stability; sensory organisation test
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2018.1552764

Measurement of postural stability is crucial for identifying predictors of performance, determining the efficacy of physical training and rehabilitation techniques and evaluating and preventing injuries, particularly for heavy load carriage in hikers, mountain search and rescue personnel and soldiers. This study investigated the effect of load distribution on postural stability in an upright stance using backpack and double pack loads under conflicting or impaired somatosensory, visual and vestibular conditions. The sensory organisation tests were conducted on 20 young adults before and after a 10-min level walking exercise. Young adults' ability to use inputs from somatosensory and visual systems to maintain postural stability was significantly reduced following a 10-min walking exercise with a heavy backpack (30% of body weight), whereas no significant changes were observed for double pack carriage. Thus, the distribution of heavy loads to the front and back provides superior balance control compared with back-only loading. Practitioner summary: This study investigated the effects of heavy (30% of body weight) load distribution on postural stability after a 10-min walking exercise. Backpack carriage significantly reduced postural stability, whereas there was no significant effect under double pack loads. Distribution of heavy loads on the front-and-back is desirable for superior balance control.