Variation of Spatiotemporal Parameters in School Children Carrying Different Backpack Loads

NCT ID: NCT03839836

Last Updated: 2019-08-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

231 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-11-02

Study Completion Date

2019-02-28

Brief Summary

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Backpacks (BP) represent the method most used by students to transport external cargo. Previous studies cite that between 4.7% and 38% of children carry daily BP loads greater than 20% of their body mass. The purpose of this study was to analyze spatiotemporal parameters of gait in children using varyingly loaded BPs.

Detailed Description

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This study examined 231 schoolchildren (118 boys, 113 girls) aged six to 12 years, carrying a traditional BP to manipulate loading (Crossing Backpack Children Arpenaz 7 Litres, Junior Red Quechua). The inclusion criteria were: age between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination. The exclusion criteria were: recent injury to the lower limb and back, alterations in the foot bones, congenital structural changes to the ankle, flatfoot associated with cerebral palsy, surgical treatment of foot or lower leg, or any genetic, neurologic or muscular conditions.

The parents were provided with information about the study, and those consenting for their children to participate, also completed a questionnaire. The children were fully informed of the procedures involved and gave assent. All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution of University of Malaga (CEUMA 91/2016H) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

Load was added to the BPs in increments of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of the child's body weight. Spatio-temporal parameters were measured with the OptoGait® system.

Two examiners were responsible for the system software and collecting data. General information, including height and weight, were recorded. To measure gait parameters, the protocol used for the Optogait reliability testing was used. This involved the children walking on a walkway at a comfortable speed, repeating this walk three times and calculating the mean speed. Prior to data collection, the children performed one familiarization trial for five minutes. Children were asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children started walking, the researchers selected the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walked from a point two metres in front of the bar and stopped at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration

Conditions

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Child, Only Gait, Unsteady

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Clinical trial experimental
Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
The study was a double-blind, five-arm experimental study. This biomechanical study was designed to examine the effect of weight in the gait of the children with the backpack, no follow-up was undertaken.

A convenience sample of children was approached The potential recruits are asked to attend a screening appointment Children were asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly with 5 different weights inside the backpack.

Study Groups

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Baseline

Children between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination using a backpack without the child's body weight, the spatio-temporal parameters are measured with the OptoGait® system

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

5% child's body weight

Children between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination using a backpack load was added to the BPs 5%, of the child's body weight, the spatio-temporal parameters are measured with the OptoGait® system

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Backpack child's body weight

Intervention Type OTHER

Children are asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children start walking, the researchers select the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walk from a point two metres in front of the bar and stop at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration . A three-minute interval occurs between individual assessments to transmit the data, as well as to prepare for the next assessment. Only steps in the sensor areas are included in the analysis. Recording six to eight strides is reported as sufficient to obtain representative data for unimpaired adults. Subsequently, five experimental conditions are measured: without BP, BP loads of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight. The order of these loaded conditions are random.

10% child's body weight

Children between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination using a backpack load was added to the BPs 10%, of the child's body weight, the spatio-temporal parameters are measured with the OptoGait® system

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Backpack child's body weight

Intervention Type OTHER

Children are asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children start walking, the researchers select the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walk from a point two metres in front of the bar and stop at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration . A three-minute interval occurs between individual assessments to transmit the data, as well as to prepare for the next assessment. Only steps in the sensor areas are included in the analysis. Recording six to eight strides is reported as sufficient to obtain representative data for unimpaired adults. Subsequently, five experimental conditions are measured: without BP, BP loads of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight. The order of these loaded conditions are random.

15% child's body weight

Children between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination using a backpack load was added to the BPs 15%, of the child's body weight, the spatio-temporal parameters are measured with the OptoGait® system

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Backpack child's body weight

Intervention Type OTHER

Children are asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children start walking, the researchers select the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walk from a point two metres in front of the bar and stop at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration . A three-minute interval occurs between individual assessments to transmit the data, as well as to prepare for the next assessment. Only steps in the sensor areas are included in the analysis. Recording six to eight strides is reported as sufficient to obtain representative data for unimpaired adults. Subsequently, five experimental conditions are measured: without BP, BP loads of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight. The order of these loaded conditions are random.

20% child's body weight

Children between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination using a backpack load was added to the BPs 20%, of the child's body weight, the spatio-temporal parameters are measured with the OptoGait® system

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Backpack child's body weight

Intervention Type OTHER

Children are asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children start walking, the researchers select the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walk from a point two metres in front of the bar and stop at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration . A three-minute interval occurs between individual assessments to transmit the data, as well as to prepare for the next assessment. Only steps in the sensor areas are included in the analysis. Recording six to eight strides is reported as sufficient to obtain representative data for unimpaired adults. Subsequently, five experimental conditions are measured: without BP, BP loads of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight. The order of these loaded conditions are random.

Interventions

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Backpack child's body weight

Children are asked to walk naturally, facing forward, with their hands out of pockets; wearing light, comfortable clothes, with the BP placed correctly. As the children start walking, the researchers select the foot of the first step inside the bars, in the Optogait software. After being instructed to 'walk slowly at a comfortable speed', the children walk from a point two metres in front of the bar and stop at a point two metres behind the last bar, to minimize effects of acceleration and deceleration . A three-minute interval occurs between individual assessments to transmit the data, as well as to prepare for the next assessment. Only steps in the sensor areas are included in the analysis. Recording six to eight strides is reported as sufficient to obtain representative data for unimpaired adults. Subsequently, five experimental conditions are measured: without BP, BP loads of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight. The order of these loaded conditions are random.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* The inclusion criteria were: age between six and 12 years, no pain in the lower limb and back at the time of examination.

Exclusion Criteria:

* The exclusion criteria were: recent injury to the lower limb and back, alterations in the foot bones, congenital structural changes to the ankle, flatfoot associated with cerebral palsy, surgical treatment of foot or lower leg, or any genetic, neurologic or muscular conditions.
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Malaga

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gabriel Gijon-Nogueron

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Gabriel Gijon Nogueron

Armilla, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Paez-Moguer J, Montes-Alguacil J, Garcia-Paya I, Medina-Alcantara M, Evans AM, Gijon-Nogueron G. Variation of spatiotemporal parameters in school children carrying different backpack loads: a cross sectional study. Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 21;9(1):12192. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48675-3.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31434980 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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UMalagaHS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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