| Author: | Ting, Mo-lar Jacqueline |
| Title: | Effects of backpack load placement on pulmonary capacities of normal schoolchildren |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Subject: | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations. School children -- Health and hygiene. Backpacking -- Physiological aspects. |
| Department: | Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
| Pages: | vii, 70 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Background: Backpack load placements have been acknowledged to affect posture, physiological costs and physical performance. To the best of the author's knowledge, literature concerning the effects of backpack load placement on pulmonary capacities schoolchildren has not been reported. Objective: To assess the combined effects of backpack loads and load placement centered at T7, T12 or L3 on pulmonary capacities of normal schoolchildren. Study design: Pulmonary capacities of normal schoolchildren were measured by spirometry during free standing and when a load of 15% of body weight being centered at T7, T12, and L3 positions. Methods: Spirometric parameters of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75%) were measured in twenty-two normal schoolchildren (15 males, 7 females) with mean age, height, and weight of (12.0 +- 0.6) years, (151 +- 6) centimeters, and (40.4 +- 6.9) kg respectively during free standing and when carrying a double strap shoulder suspension backpack load of 15% of body weight with its center of gravity positioned at T7, T12, and L3 positions in random order. Results: No interaction between gender and 4 experimental conditions (unloaded, loaded at T7, T12 and L3) was observed. However, the effect of load was found to be significant for the absolute and Lam and Knudson referenced values of FVC and FEV1 irrespective of the spirometric data were obtained from the highest of the three successful trials and the acceptable trial that gave the greatest sum of FVC and FEV1. Gender effect was noted in Knudson referenced values of FVC and in absolute and Lam and Knudson referenced values of PEF. Results of the present study indicate that no significant difference of load placements on the pulmonary function of schoolchildren was found during a static standing position. However, a significant reduction in FVC and FEV1 was observed when a load of 15% body weight was applied. Conclusions: Pulmonary function may be more susceptible to a backpack load of 15% body weight than load placements. Manipulation of load placements may not be able to alleviate the restrictive effects exerted on the pulmonary function resulted from backpack load carriage. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b21741232.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 8.85 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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