The Effect of Counterbalance Load System on Ground Reaction Force during Walking

This study investigated the effect of counterbalance load system on ground reaction force (GRF) during walking on college age students. GRF was recorded with force plate during walking on a treadmill with three different conditions. Twenty-six volunteer (mean age was 22.41±1.75 years) participated in this study. The subjects in three different days walked 10 min on the treadmill without backpack, with normal backpack and with counterbalance backpack. GRF measured during walking with three conditions. The walking and backpack data gathered from these subjects were analyzed using a mix between subjects analysis of variance ANOVA for GRF in three different conditions. The results indicated that, GRF were greater in normal backpack and counterbalance backpack conditions than without backpack condition. But there is significant difference among GRF during walking with normal and counterbalance backpack and unloaded walking. At the four phase of walking all to gather there was significant difference between all conditions. Finding of this investigation clearly show the advantage of a new system for carrying the load that was counterbalance backpack. In addition the reduction of force by counterbalance backpack is kinematic benefit of carrying the load.