Relationship between the school backpack load and university students’ posture

AIMS: To relate the effect of progressive increases in the load of the school backpack with the posture of university students. METHOD: Twenty-six female university students from the physiotherapy course, aged between 18 and 25 years, were evaluated. Loads of 0%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 10% of the volunteers’ body weight were placed in a backpack on the shoulders of the volunteers. Next, images were captured in the right sagittal plane, processed through Postural Assessment Software (SAPO). The statistical analyzes were performed using Analysis of Variance test. RESULTS: The results obtained demonstrated significant differences in the angles between the elbow and the anterior superior iliac spine when carrying 7% compared to 0% (p=0.001); and the acromion and anterior superior iliac spine comparing 7% with 0%, (p=0.032). In the other measurements, there were no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Loads from 7% of body weight are sufficient to promote postural changes.