Schoolbag carriage : design, adjustment, carriage duration and weight : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ergonomics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

dc.contributor.authorMackie, Hamish William
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-21T02:59:08Z
dc.date.availableNO_RESTRICTIONen_US
dc.date.available2010-07-21T02:59:08Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.description.abstractThere is anecdotal and scientific evidence to suggest that schoolbag carriage is associated with musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and possibly long-term back pain. Thus schoolbag carriage is an area of concern for students, parents and both education and health professionals. A schoolbag weight limit of 10% of body weight (BW) is currently recommended. However, it is based on subjective observations rather than objective findings and does not consider other aspects of schoolbag carriage such as schoolbag design and adjustment or carriage patterns. Five studies were conducted in order to determine the effects on students' responses to schoolbag carriage of schoolbag design, adjustment, carriage duration and weight. Backpack design had a significant effect on reported musculoskeletal discomfort and choice of backpack. Schoolbag hip-belt and shoulder strap adjustment and weight significantly affected shoulder strap tension forces and shoulder interface pressure in simulated schoolbag carriage. Using activity monitoring, school students were found to spend approximately two hours carrying their schoolbags each day. This usually comprised 11-15 times per day of 8-9 minutes of carriage. Using this temporal pattern information, 16 boys (13-14 years) were exposed to a simulated school day using schoolbags weighing 0, 5, 10, 12.5 and 15% BW and an additional condition of 10% BW with tighter shoulder straps. Posture, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), muscular strain and reported ability to walk and balance were significantly affected when schoolbag load reached 10% BW. However, despite these findings, the magnitude of self reported muscular strain and MSD suggested that 15% BW may be too heavy for school students. Thus, 10% BW may be an appropriate upper schoolbag weight limit for a typical school day. Using a psychophysical approach the mean (standard deviation) maximum acceptable schoolbag weight (MASW) selected by 16 school boys (13-14 years) was 10.4(3.8) %BW. This finding agrees with the findings of the previous study and supports the current schoolbag weight recommendation of 10% BW. The results of the five studies can be used in developing schoolbag carrying guidelines to help reduce the prevalence of MSD amongst school students.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/1478
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectSchool bagsen_US
dc.subjectErgonomicsen_US
dc.subjectHuman engineeringen_US
dc.subjectHigh school studentsen_US
dc.subjectPhysiologyen_US
dc.subjectLifting and carryingen_US
dc.subject.otherFields of Research::320000 Medical and Health Sciences::321200 Public Health and Health Services::321201 Environmental and occupational health and safetyen_US
dc.titleSchoolbag carriage : design, adjustment, carriage duration and weight : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ergonomics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorMackie, Hamish William
thesis.degree.disciplineErgonomicsen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)en_US
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