Designing a New Ergonomic Student Backpack

Abstract

Introduction: A Backpack is an essential tool for anyone, such as students who have to carry their daily necessities and supplies for long hours. Aims: Studies have shown that inappropriate backpack types not only cause injuries to the musculoskeletal system but also cause the poor distribution of force and excessive pressure on the feet and thus discomfort for people. Methods: In order to improve the comfort of backpack users and reduce the pressure on the foot, 18- to 25-year-old female students with normal body mass were selected for the study. The backpack was designed and made according to the Schoone-Harmsen method and ergonomic criteria. The sample was compared with current and existing backpacks in the market in terms of design and ergonomic features. Results: The results showed that the new backpack using a medical belt based on ergonomic features with appropriate features provides a greater sense of comfort for users and it is improved compared to existing backpacks which are available in the Iranian market and designs based on previous studies. Conclusion: For designing a backpack for people with different anthropometric sizes, a  more accurate assessment of the larger sample, particularly measurements on the lumbar region and back, is required. It is recommended to evaluate the results in a larger sample and its effect on the dimples of Venus. However, the results had a positive evaluation at this stage.