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. 2013 Jun;25(6):685-6.
doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.685. Epub 2013 Jul 23.

Effect of the spacing of backpack shoulder straps on cervical muscle activity, acromion and scapular position, and upper trapezius pain

Min-Hee Kim  1 , Won-Gyu Yoo
Affiliations

Effect of the spacing of backpack shoulder straps on cervical muscle activity, acromion and scapular position, and upper trapezius pain

Min-Hee Kim et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the effect of the spacing of backpack shoulder straps on cervical muscle activity, acromion and scapular position, and upper trapezius (UT) pain. [Subjects] Fourteen males aged 20-32 years, were recruited. [Methods] We measured the MPS (midcervical paraspinal) activity, acromial angle, scapular distance, and UT pain after gait carrying a backpack with different shoulder strap spacings. [Results] The MPS, scapular inferior distance, and UT pressure pain threshold was significantly decreased and the acromion angle was significantly increased when carrying a backpack with wide shoulder straps compared to narrow shoulder straps. [Conclusion] A backpack with wide shoulder straps may cause scapular depression syndrome and chronic UT pain.

Keywords: Backpack; Scapular position; Shoulder straps.

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