Effects of Different Backpack Loads in Acceleration Transmission during Recreational Distance Walking

• Authors: Angel G. Lucas-Cuevas , Pedro Pérez-Soriano , Michael Bush , Aaron Crossman , Salvador Llana , Juan M. Cortell-Tormo , José A. Pérez-Turpin
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

It is well established nowadays the benefits that physical activity can have on the health of individuals. Walking is considered a fundamental method of movement and using a backpack is a common and economical manner of carrying load weight. Nevertheless, the shock wave produced by the impact forces when carrying a backpack can have detrimental effects on health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences in the accelerations placed on males and females whilst carrying different loads when walking. Twenty nine sports science students (16 males and 13 females) participated in the study under 3 different conditions: no weight, 10% and 20% body weight (BW) added in a backpack. Accelerometers were attached to the right shank and the centre of the forehead. Results showed that males have lower accelerations than females both in the head (2.62 ± 0.43G compared to 2.83 + 0.47G) and shank (1.37 ± 0.14G compared to 1.52 ± 0.15G; p<0.01). Accelerations for males and females were consistent throughout each backpack condition (p>0.05). The body acts as a natural shock absorber, reducing the amount of force that transmits through the body between the foot (impact point) and head. Anthropometric and body mass distribution differences between males and females may result in women receiving greater impact acceleration compared to men when the same load is carried.

Keywords

EN

accelerometry; load carriage; treadmill; walking

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 81-89

Dates

published

1 - 06 - 2013

online

05 - 07 - 2013

Contributors

author

Angel G. Lucas-Cuevas

• Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Spain

author

Pedro Pérez-Soriano

• Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Spain

author

Michael Bush

• Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Spain

author

Aaron Crossman

• Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Spain

author

Salvador Llana

• Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Spain

author

Juan M. Cortell-Tormo

• University of Alicante, Faculty of Education, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig - Alicante - Spain, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone]

author

José A. Pérez-Turpin

• Department of General and Specific Didactics, University of Alicante, Spain

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/hukin-2013-0028