INTRODUCTION

In this experiment we studied the effect of carrying different loads on ones back in a backpack. This was studied with an empty backpack as a control and then with a backpack with a mass of 12.3 kg (120 N) of textbooks inside. Walking gait was filmed and posture was analyzed in both examples. A study in this area is very valuable to an "average" college student who, on a daily basis, carries various loads in a backpack while walking across campus. Any significant amount of time spent in this activity may lead to muscle strain in this activity.

We compared the different joint angles of the body which include the ankle, knee, hip, spine, shoulder, and neck with and without a load on the back to note body responses in simple gait locomotion. The most significant difference between the two examples were spine and hip angles, and were therefore the joints we chose to study. With an increased load on the back, the spine segment angle was greater and the hip angle was smaller than it was without a load. This breaking at the waist is automatically made during gait in an effort to stabilize balance and to keep the center of gravity in a manageable position, in this case, directly over the hips.