Impact of ballistic body armour and load carriage on walking patterns and perceived comfort

Abstract

This study found that soldiers should balance loads, avoiding load placement on the non-dominant side front torso, thus minimising mobility restriction and potential injury risk. Implications for armour vest design modifications can also be found in the results.

Changes in Gait with Anteriorly Added Mass: A Pregnancy Simulation Study

“…24 Additionally, previous research has shown that increased anterior mass significantly affects end-point (foot clearance) control in healthy adults. 16,17 In this study, an increased knee abduction angle was seen around toe off in the additional mass conditions, suggesting a limb shortening strategy to increase foot clearance during swing.…”

“…4,9 The results of this study suggest that with increased anterior mass, women decrease their stride length which also may decrease the time in single limb support. 11 This decrease in stride length has also been reported in healthy adult populations with the addition of anterior and asymmetrical mass 17 compared to the no added mass conditions.…”

“…15 Posture and coordination of the pelvis and trunk have been investigated as other possible areas of adaptation during pregnancy, with evidence of increased anterior pelvic tilt, 3,4,8,10 decreased trunk 7 and pelvic rotation, 7,9 and decreased in-phase coordination of the trunk relative to the pelvis. 7 Additionally, previous studies interested in the effects of anterior mass on gait biomechanics in healthy (non-pregnant) adults have noted increased trunk extension, 16 decreased stride length, 17 and lower limb kinematic changes. 8,16,18 As a result, further understanding how anterior mass affects gait may reveal ways to accommodate for the pregnancy mass independent of the pregnancy-related hormonal changes.…”

The physical competence test of the Dutch National Police: The effects of wearing a police uniform on test performance

“…(1) Several studies have found that exercise in body armor increased the chance of injuries due to an increased ground reaction force (GRF) (e.g., Dempsey, Handcock, & Rehrer, 2014;Orr, Pope, Johnston, & Coyle, 2014;Park et al, 2013). Yet, research on the influence of a police uniform on injury prevalence is still limited.…”

“…Taylor, Lewis, Notley, and Peoples (2012) showed that firefighters' performance on a job-related obstacle course decreased by 27% when wearing full equipment. Furthermore, research on the effects of wearing specialized body armor in the military has revealed negative effects on balance, strength, speed, mobility and physiological strain (e.g., Daanen & Koerhuis, 2003;Park et al, 2013;Tomes, Orr, & Pope, 2017). Dempsey, Handcock, and Rehrer (2013) were the first to investigate whether wearing a complete police uniform influenced job-specific task elements.…”