The effect of backpack load on pulmonary function: A Systematic Review

The goal of this study is to thoroughly evaluate how wearing big backpack weights affects lung function. This study seeks to ascertain the degree of pulmonary health alternations, lung diffusion capacity changes, and overall respiratory performance variations associated with carrying a backpack load through a comparative analysis of people who regularly carry backpacks and those who do not. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using four databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer and Research Gate) from 2010 to 2023. The PRISMA approach (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) Reporting standards were followed in this review. Results: A total of 20 studies that matched the predetermined inclusion criteria were included in our review. These studies used spirometry, lung function questionnaires, and tests of diffusion capacity to evaluate pulmonary function in a variety of demographics, including students, employees, and military members. The participants’ ages ranged from 21 to 45 years. These investigations’ findings repeatedly showed a strong correlation between carrying big backpack loads and detrimental effects on pulmonary function. Particularly, people who carried big loads frequently compared to people who did not engage in such activities. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) measures all demonstrated this.

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