Variation of Spatiotemporal Parameters in School Children Carrying Different Backpack Loads

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Child, Only; Gait, Unsteady
• Interventions: Other: Backpack child's body weight

• Registration Number: NCT03839836
• Lead Sponsor: University of Malaga

Brief Summary

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

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

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-11-02
• Primary Completion: 2019-01-16
• Study First Submitted: 2019-02-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-02-12
• Study First Posted: 2019-02-15
• Study Completion: 2019-02-28
• Status Verified: 2019-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-08-24
• Last Update Posted: 2019-08-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 231

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
5% child's body weight	Backpack 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
20% child's body weight	Backpack 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
10% child's body weight	Backpack 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
15% child's body weight	Backpack 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

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
OptoGait® system is a system for movement analysis and functional assessment of patients with five-meter instrument walkway test	1 hour	The Optogait is a reliable and validated system, which records 19 spatio-temporal parameters. For this study, a five-metre instrument walkway is used, consisting of five transmission bars and five reception bars, with a separation of 120cm. Each bar (100cm x 8cm) contains 96 light emitters 3mm from the ground. Optical sensors operate at a frequency of 1000 Hz, with accuracy of 1cm, to detect the spatio-temporal parameters related to walking, running and other movements. The software use is OptoGait® v.1.11.1.0. The Optogait system is calibrated and checked for accuracy at all times, and provided an exhaustive, reliable measurement of the spatiotemporal phases of the gait cycle

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Gabriel Gijon Nogueron; 🇪🇸 Armilla, Spain