The Acute Effects of Schoolbag Loading on Posture and Gait Mechanics in 10- to 13-Year-Old Children: A Cohort from the North West Province

Most schoolchildren carry schoolbags, of which a substantial proportion carry loads that exceed 15% of their body mass. Although the effects of loading have been investigated to varying degrees, the status of schoolbag loading and the acute affects thereof on gait and posture have not been thoroughly investigated within the South African context. A total of 60 participants in the 10–13-year age range volunteered for the present study. Significant differences were evident for relative load carriage (χ(2)(3) = 14.54, p < 0.001), forefoot and heel forces (M(diff) = 17.05–34.86 N, p < 0.001), force ratios (M(diff) = 0.02, p = 0.029), and gait speed (M(diff) = −0.18 km/hr, p = 0.016), but not for any postural angles (M(diff) = −3.37–6.08 deg, all p > 0.052). Those who exceeded 15% BM were ~9 times more likely to report pain than those below 15% BM. The children in the current study carried significantly heavier relative loads (p < 0.001) compared to similarly aged children from other countries. Loading leads to acute changes in posture and gait that are likely not meaningful. However, excessive loading (>15% BM) leads to significantly higher perceptions and reporting of pain in 10–13-year-old children.