Effect of unilateral bag use on plantar pressures and static balance in women

Abstract

Introduction: The increasing insertion of women into the labor market has created a need to adapt handbags, with different sizes and weights, which consequently can overload the musculoskeletal system. Objective: To evaluate the effect of using a unilateral bag on plantar pressures and static balance in women. Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out in Fortaleza in 2018. 258 women aged between 18 and 59 years who used a unilateral bag participated in this study. Two ques-tionnaires were applied, targeting sociodemographic variables, life habits, characteristics of bag use and level of physical activity. Height, scapular symmetry, body and bag mass were also measured. A baropodometer was used to assess plantar pressure and static balance with and without the unilateral bag. Independent and paired t-tests were applied to verify the influence of the bag on the variables of interest, using the SPSS Statistics program (version 23.0). Results: On the side where the bag was carried, an increase in lateral mass distribution (LMD), foot pressure and surface area, and a decrease in the distance from barycenter (p < 0.05) were observed. On the opposite side, a decrease in LMD and an increase in barycenter were detected (p < 0.05). In static balance, no differences were observed in the anteroposterior and side-to-side oscillations with bag placement (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The unilateral bag causes alterations in plantar pressures and ipsilateral barycenter alongside the use of the bag, being a risk factor or aggravation for dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system and for the occurrence of pain.