The art, science of head-load carrying
Do human beings carry loads on their heads? Why do they do so? Is it harmful or beneficial to carry loads on the head? What are the biological, occupational and recreational functions of the head?
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The human head sits on the neck. It is the upper part of the human body. Forming part of the head are the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, the tongue and so on. The skull or cranium encases the human brain.
As a whole, the head performs the following biological functions, among others: it is used to think, feel, sense, intuit, hear, see, smell, taste, chew, swallow and breathe.
Incidentally, the head is used to perform occupational and recreational functions as well.
In all parts of the world, except Western Europe and North America, human beings use the head to carry loads. Western Europeans and North Americans also carry loads on the body – on the back and not on the head – by using backpacks.
The head is also used to play football.
“Our recent studies on East African women have shown that they can carry loads up to 20 per cent of their body weight (equivalent to a good size suitcase for ‘free’, that is, for no increase in their metabolism,” according to writers of an article titled: Physiology of Load Carrying, published online under the address, www.ucl.ac.be.
“ Furthermore, these women can carry up to 70 per cent of their body weight on their heads considerably more economical than their European counterparts can carry equivalent backpack loads,” the writers stated.
“We have recently been able to show how these women are seemingly able to defy the law of thermodynamics and get something for nothing.
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“When the African women carry loads on their heads, they are able to increase the amount of energy that is cancelled, reducing the muscular energy required to maintain the walking gait and compensating for any increase in muscular energy required to support additional loads.”
On their research into energetics of carrying head-supported loads in Africa and Asia, the scientists asked, “The question remains: Are these African women unique in their ability to carry moderate loads for free and large loads cheaply?”
Besides Africans, the scientists singled out the Sherpa people of Nepal as the most famous head-supported load carriers.
“More typically, the men carry 50kg loads and the women 40kg for long distances or 80 and 60kg, respectively, for short distances,” the scientists wrote.
In another article, The science of carrying things on the head, published online at www.neatorama.com, the writer asked: “Why do people in some cultures regularly carry objects on their heads?”
The author’s answer is, “It’s because biomechanically speaking, head loading is efficient means of hauling cargo.”
A writer, Jessica Dweck, in an article, The Art and Science of Carrying Things on Your Head, published by the New York based Slate magazine online, wrote that Africans and others have been able to carry heavy loads on their heads without any harm because of years of practice.
On health benefits of head-load carrying, Joel Carbonnel, in an article published by Positive Health Online, wrote: “If you have never put anything on your head, apart from the occasional hat, hood, headscarf, telephone or even beret, you haven’t lived yet.”
“Carrying weight on your head than these (the above mentioned) can greatly improve your wellbeing and the way you look.”
The writer stated: “Head-load carrying is therapeutic and it’s a shame we don’t commonly employ this free, simple and economical mode of carrying our loads.”
“So, if you think head-load carrying is a very old hat just good for people living in far away exotic countries who haven’t yet invented the rucksack, the suitcase and the plastic bag, think again,” the writer added.
Rodger Perrin, a physiotherapist, in his research on body mechanics of head-load carrying, concluded that it is possible to carry heavy loads on the head because the spine acts like a jack. The spinal jack mechanism, if properly used, is a therapeutic and economical way of hauling loads.
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From the foregoing, it is clear that head-load carrying is a common practice worldwide; although in some cultures people carry loads on their backs or shoulders.
It is harmless and economical to carry loads on the head – if the right weight of load is used. Above all, it is healthy and therapeutic to carry loads on the head.
Why then the recent controversy about head-load carrying in Ghana?
It started when it was found out that the author, Prof Joseph Albert Quam, wrote in his book, Natural Science for Primary Schools (Book 1), that the head is used to carry load.
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Critics of the author, including the Ministry of Education, some educationists and intellectuals, thought otherwise.
I believe that the controversy came out of misconception and confusion of facts. Biological functions of the head are different from its occupational and recreational ones.
Most of the critics of the author were not objective because they argued from the subjective view point.
Dislike or hatred for head-load carrying does not mean it is not a fact of life.
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According to the old saying: “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”.
It is dangerous, however, for a person to allow his or her subjective views to becloud presentation of objective facts.
(therson.cofie@yahoo.com)