Development of an Ergonomically Designed Backpacks for Junior High School Students

Abstract

Backpacks are ever used to transport everyday essentials from one place to another which also come in a variety of design and specification that personify the person; yet most manufactures often overlook the importance of comfortability and posture support instead of aesthetics. Segment of the population suffer from excessively heavy loads of backpacks which lead to plenty of health problems. Contradictory to public beliefs, wearing heavy backpacks will not stunt growth [1], but will breed health problems nonetheless; bad posture, shoulders bending inwards and improper spine alignment. Furthermore, prolong carriage of heavy loaded backpacks brings great stress to a single muscle group resulting to muscle fatigue and causes the user’s body to compensate to the weight misaligning the axis of the body [2, 4]. As backpacks have a high demand of use for students the researchers envision of creating a backpack that diminish the payload by properly distributing the weight. This method utilizes the muscle’s carrying capacity and improves of the user’s posture [3, 7]. In order to develop this design, anthropometry and statistics are used to determine the appropriate dimensions for each part of the product: Shoulder breath (Bideltoid), Shoulder breath - (Biacromial), Lumbar height and average bag weight. Choosing junior high school students as participants, ranging from 13–17 years old, who are typically carrying a heavy loaded bag. Gathering the participant’s body segments and integrating it for the dimensions of the design with respect to the 5th and 95th percentile of the stated body measurements. The design serves the purpose of bringing materials with the minimal possibility of having discomfort due to overstressing of muscles [7]. Applying stress absorbers in the straps of the bag which will be designed to minimize the strain received by the user’s shoulders. The ergonomic design should bring the user comfortability as well as functionality.