SIB# 381 Back Packs and Lumbar Lordosis
The Study: The Effects of Force that Pushes Forward Lumbar Region on Sagittal Spinal Alignment When Wearing Backpack.
The Facts:
a. The authors wanted to design a backpack that would push the lumbar area forward.
b. Additionally they wanted to use radiographs to confirm that there was a change in the sagittal plane.
c. They recruited 14 adult subjects for the study.
d. The authors studied the subjects when they stood without a backpack, when they wore a general backpack and when they wore the backpack designed to push the lumbar area forward.
e. The cervical curve was also studied and showed a mean lordosis of 14.48 degrees without a backpack, 17.83 with a general backpack and 18.76 with the backpack designed to push the lumbar area forward.
f. The mean thoracic kyphosis was 27.77 degrees with no back pack, 29.78 with a general backpack and 27.96 with the backpack designed to push the lumbar area forward.
g. The mean lumbar lordosis was 46.30 degrees without a backpack, 43.03 with a general backpack and 48.29 with the backpack designed to push the lumbar area forward.
h. The sacral slope was found to be 33.52 without the backpack, 34.56 with general backpack and 37.35 with the backpack designed to push the lumbar area forward.
i. “Spinal alignment indicators were measured and analyzed using 3D radiography measurement software (Xelis, Infinity, Seoul, Korea) based on radiographic images taken in three conditions…”
j. The authors stated “In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that wearing a backpack designed to push the lumbar region forward may contribute to the restoration of lumbar lordosis which is reduced when a general backpack is worn. It is thought that this change in lumbar alignment may be due to the change in the sacral slope.”
Take Home:
This study shows changes in the sagittal spine related to the wearing of a backpack and suggests possible benefits from the use of specially designed backpacks designed to help reinforce the lumbar lordosis.
Reviewer's Comments:
I think this is a good article to review as there has been a lot of interest in the effect of backpacks on the spine. I leave it to the reader to decide whether or not these changes are clinically significant. The reader should also keep in mind that all measurement methods have some error and this may be more significant when the observed changes are relatively small.
Reviewer: Roger Coleman DC
Editor: Mark R. Payne DC
Reference: In TS, Yu SM, Jang SH. The Effects of Force That Pushes Forward Lumbar Region on Sagittal Spinal Alignment When Wearing Backpack. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Sep 28;16(19). pii: E3643. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193643.
Link To Full Text: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/19/3643
Link to Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31569358