Effect of armor and carrying load on body balance and leg muscle function

Load carriage, human performance, and employment standards

“…For example, a common observation accompanying heavy load carriage on the back is a forward flexion of the trunk (Attwells et al 2006), presumably to prevent a disadvantageous elevation and posterior displacement of the centre of gravity, and a loss of stability (Park et al 2014). Logically, the heavier the load, the greater becomes the challenge to maintain the centre of gravity location, and more forward lean should be expected.…”

“…Several groups have reported significant deviations from normal (unloaded) balance, posture, movement, and gait when carrying heavy loads (Martin and Nelson 1986;Quesada et al 2000;Attwells et al 2006;Qu and Yeo 2011;Park et al 2014). In general, those changes have been shown to contribute to, or are at least suggestive of, an elevated energy cost of movement, an earlier onset of fatigue, and possibly an increased risk of injury (Epstein et al 1988;Knapik et al 2004).…”

“…In general, those changes have been shown to contribute to, or are at least suggestive of, an elevated energy cost of movement, an earlier onset of fatigue, and possibly an increased risk of injury (Epstein et al 1988;Knapik et al 2004). Morever, during deliberate mass placements away from the midline, those outcomes also show a lateral dependency, with an even greater postural disturbance and more rapid fatigue development (Park et al 2014).…”

“…Not surprisingly, these changes can make such individuals more prone to workplace injuries (Bhambhani and Maikala 2000;Knapik et al 2004;Park et al 2014), and this raises two matters of relevance to employment selection: duty of care and discrimination. Less than adequate consideration of these, sometimes competing, responsibilities can lead to selection bias, with gender bias, perceived or otherwise, in employment standards and cut-scores providing a legitimate basis for contesting selection decisions (Supreme Court of Canada 1999; Eid 2001).…”

Sensory Enhancing Insoles Modify Gait during Inclined Treadmill Walking with Load

“…These mechanoreceptors provide information about the rhythmic stepping and balance control mechanisms of gait to successfully prevent slipping, tripping, and/or falling while walking (12,35). More importantly, loss of proprioception as a result of extended vigorous activity while carrying a loaded backpack has been identified as an injury risk factor (23,34,46). This loss in proprioception may negatively influence spatiotemporal gait characteristics during hiking, thus increasing an individual_s risk of sustaining an injury.…”