Research Article
A Biomechanical Model and Simulation of Vertebral Support and Lumbar Spinal Discs in Student Backpacks
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-030-72795-6_57, author={Meryl Liu}, title={A Biomechanical Model and Simulation of Vertebral Support and Lumbar Spinal Discs in Student Backpacks}, proceedings={Simulation Tools and Techniques. 12th EAI International Conference, SIMUtools 2020, Guiyang, China, August 28-29, 2020, Proceedings, Part II}, proceedings_a={SIMUTOOLS PART 2}, year={2021}, month={4}, keywords={Biomechanics Ergonomics 3DSSPP}, doi={10.1007/978-3-030-72795-6_57} }- Meryl Liu
Year: 2021
A Biomechanical Model and Simulation of Vertebral Support and Lumbar Spinal Discs in Student Backpacks
SIMUTOOLS PART 2
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-72795-6_57
Abstract
Nowadays, many students are having to carry excessive amounts of weight in their backpacks every single day. Thousands of children are treated for backpack-related injuries every year, and the continuous strain has been linked in many studies to chronic spinal injuries in later life. The purpose of this project was to develop and simulate a new potential backpack design utilizing a theoretical biomechanical model in order to analyze the efficiency of applying exterior support to alleviate strain on lumbar spinal discs L4/L5 and L5/S1. Using anthropometric data collected from CDC statistics of 16-year-old male and female high school students, a simulation was conducted based on the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles, using the 3DSSPP program. The compression and shear forces were compared between the new design and current backpack models, with results demonstrating a significant reduction of forces, (around 44–67% and 25–38% for compression and shear forces, respectively). Thus, it was concluded that the new design was able to help to prevent the discomfort and pain on back, even at a very heavy backpack weight. Results were discussed and future research directions were given to improve the applicability of the new design.
