Effect of Heavy Backpack Load and Carrying Duration on Musculoskeletal System: Review

Abstract

Carrying a heavy backpack load can have a detrimental musculoskeletal effect on the health status of school children, army, labor tasks and adults dealing with too heavy working loads. The purpose of this study is to review the literature, to investigate the effect of a collaboration of heavy backpack load on musculoskeletal activities whilst carrying different loads. Mendeley, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Academic Search Complete, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched to retrieve the papers for this review. Effect of carrying heavy backpack loads associated with the amount and shape of load, time spent carrying and repeated loading, position, and the way of carrying the load, the design of the backpack, physical characteristics and physical conditions as well as physiological characteristics such as age and gender of the individual. People who carry heavy backpacks expose to chronic strain, shoulder pain, back pain, lumbar arthritis, deformity of appearance, skeletal deficiency, muscle weakening and who can change the shape of the body gradually. Age was significantly associated with developing musculoskeletal disorders, and females were more likely to report such symptoms than males of the same age. Reducing backpack weight has been suggested as one prevention strategy to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.

Keywords: Backpack, carrying, heavy, load, musculoskeletal

Cite this Article

Hafte Assefa Beyene, Berhanu Mebrahte, Mahari Geretsadkan Meles. Effect of Heavy Backpack Load and Carrying Duration on Musculoskeletal System: Review. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Medicine. 2020; 10(1): 11–17p.