Open AccessDistribution of feet pressure on ground and maintaining body balance among 8–10-year-old children with and without external load application
Author(s) -
Jarosław Jaszczur-Nowicki,
Joanna M. Bukowska,
Dariusz Kruczkowski,
Magdalena Pieniążek,
Grzegorz Mańko,
Michał Spieszny
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta of bioengineering and biomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.361
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2450-6303
pISSN - 1509-409X
DOI - 10.37190/abb-01696-2020-02
Subject(s) - backpack , forefoot , heel , foot (prosody) , foot pressure , ground reaction force , orthodontics , force platform , center of pressure (fluid mechanics) , medicine , balance test , balance (ability) , body weight , plantar pressure , mathematics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , surgery , anatomy , structural engineering , physics , engineering , pressure sensor , linguistics , philosophy , thermodynamics , kinematics , classical mechanics , aerodynamics , complication
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of applying an external load on the distribution of pressure on the plantar side of the foot and maintaining body balance, using the podobarographic platform. Methods: The study was conducted on 130 school children aged 8–10: girls (n = 68, body mass = 22.8 ± 6.0 kg, body height = 129.3 ± 7.5 cm) and boys (n = 62, body mass = 31.1 ± 6.5 kg, body height 134.4 ± 7.3 cm). The study involved 2 trials. At first, children stood on the platform assuming a natural position. Then, they put on a 5-kg backpack and stood on the platform once more. Results: The results indicate that after backpack loading, for the total research group of girls and boys, statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of foot force on the ground in the left forefoot (p = 0.008), metatarsus (p = 0.000) and heel areas (p = 0.002). While in the right foot, these differences were noted for the forefoot (p = 0.024) and metatarsus (p = 0.000). The results of balance testing were also statistically significant. They concerned measurements of the body barycentre area (cop-bars p = 0.003), the barycentre area of the left foot (l-bars p = 0.034) and the parameter comparing distance to surface ratio (cop-lsf p = 0.000). Conclusions: It may be concluded that prolonged overloading with backpacks affects movement patterns, which may further lead to the acquisition and consolidation of postural defects.