Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33296024›Full record

ArticleDer Orthopade2021

[The influence of backpack weight in school children: gait, muscle activity, posture and stability].

Anna K Hell, Lena Braunschweig, Birgit Grages, Reinald Brunner, Jacqueline Romkes

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Der Orthopade, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
3.0field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Effect of School Backpack Weight on Shape of Children's Feet.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Influence of School Backpack Load as a Variable Affecting Gait Kinematics among Seven-Year-Old Children.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
    Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Anna K HellKinderorthopädie, Operatives Kinderzentrum, Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Plastische Chirurgie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland. anna.hell@med.uni-goettingen.de.
Lena BraunschweigKinderorthopädie, Operatives Kinderzentrum, Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Plastische Chirurgie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.
Birgit GragesKinderorthopädie, Operatives Kinderzentrum, Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Orthopädie und Plastische Chirurgie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland.
Reinald BrunnerUniversitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel (UKBB), Spitalstrasse 33, 4056, Basel, Schweiz.
Jacqueline RomkesUniversitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel (UKBB), Spitalstrasse 33, 4056, Basel, Schweiz.
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen · DEUniversity Children’s Hospital Basel · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWearing a school backpack every day may cause postural problems and affect the gait pattern of children and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a 4 kg backpack load on the gait pattern and postural sway.

objectivesThe aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a backpack load of 4 kg on the gait and postural sway of elementary school children. MATERIAL AND

methodsIn this prospective study, a group of 12 elementary school children aged between 7 and 10 years without neurological or orthopedic problems participated. The measurements included a clinical examination, three-dimensional gait analysis with electromyographic recordings and measurement of postural sway on a force plate.

resultsThe backpack load, on average 15% of the body weight, led to a slower walking speed, shorter step length and increased double-support phase. Increased anterior pelvic and trunk tilt, as well as hip flexion were also observed. Furthermore, the muscle activity and postural sway of the children were affected by the increased load.

conclusionsSchool backpacks weighing 4 kg caused changes in gait, muscle activity, posture and stability in elementary school children. Due to the weight of the backpack, the centre of mass shifted backwards and the children became less stable. During gait, this was compensated by increased anterior pelvic and trunk tilt and increased hip flexion. The activity of the paraspinal muscles was decreased and indicates that the backpack is carried passively. This may cause a negative long-term effect.

Indexed as

GaitPostureAdolescentBiomechanical PhenomenaBody WeightChildHumansMusclesProspective StudiesSchoolsWalkingWeight-BearingChildrens healthGait analysisPrimary schoolsSchool back packWalking speed

Identifiers

PMID33296024
PMCPMC8189948
OpenAlexW3111240117

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.