Abstract
We made a study on the burden of school bags on junior high school (JHS) students by way of observation. Using six JHS students as subjects to shoulder a 6 kg bag each, we measured their statokinesigram and observed their posture in the upright standing position. Their bag-bearing style varied from rucksack type to straight downward one-side shouldering to diagonal shouldering. Aremarkable lateral swaying statokinesigram was observed in the straight downward one-side shouldering. This style also showed a significant difference from the non-shouldering style in “length of locus/outline area.” It can be said that posture-controlling capacity declined. The burden pressure in descending order was straight downward, diagonal, and rucksack style shouldering. The largest pressure value of the straight downward style was 52.6 kPa on average. An examination of the subjects' posture through silhouette photographs showed an inclination of the subjects' body from the burdened side to the opposite side, indicating load balancing. We offered advice to parties concerned regarding measures which could be taken to reduce the burden of school bags on JHS students.
