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. 2021 Dec 1;15(1):36-44.
doi: 10.70252/QODZ7485. eCollection 2022.

Forces at the Feet, Gait Timing, and Trunk Flexion/Extension Excursion While Walking with a Gear Belt or Gear Vest Load

Shane S Maher  1 , Laura L Dill  1 , Jennifer L Hein  1 , Jeff A Nessler  1 , Deanna J Schmidt  1
Affiliations

Forces at the Feet, Gait Timing, and Trunk Flexion/Extension Excursion While Walking with a Gear Belt or Gear Vest Load

Shane S Maher et al. Int J Exerc Sci. .

Abstract

Law enforcement personnel often carry gear loads, which have a history of causing low back pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in gait and trunk posture for gear load carried on a gear belt and a gear vest. Twenty-nine participants performed load carriage in three conditions: a no load control trial (C), a symmetrically loaded gear belt (GB), and an anterior-loaded gear vest (ALV). Gear conditions had 9.07 kg of additional mass. Motion capture and insole force sensors were used to collect data while participants walked on a treadmill for three minutes per condition. Mean insole reaction force was significantly greater in both GB and ALV conditions as compared to C (p < 0.001). Mean gait cadence in the GB or ALV condition were not significantly different from the C condition. However, double support time in the ALV condition was significantly longer compared to C condition (p = 0.023). Stance duration on the left foot was significantly longer with the GB (p = 0.001) and ALV (p = 0.028) when compared to C. Results showed trunk flexion/extension excursion was significantly less in the GB condition when compared to the C condition (p = 0.002). These findings demonstrate that law enforcement and other personnel who walk while carrying gear loads may experience altered biomechanics compared to unloaded walking. Altered biomechanics and increased forces on the feet could potentially increase risk of musculoskeletal injury while carrying gear loads.

Keywords: Load carriage; force sensor; law enforcement; motion analysis; police.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean insole force measured while walking (n = 26). Error bars represent standard error. Both gear belt and anterior-loaded vest gear conditions demonstrated significantly greater force on left and right feet when compared to the control condition. *denotes significantly different from no load control condition (p < 0.001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Gait timing comparison for participants (n = 26) while walking in each load condition. Mean double support time (top) for the anterior-loaded gear vest condition demonstrated significantly longer double support time compared to the control condition. Left foot (blue bar) and right foot (red bar) measures are reported for stance duration (bottom). *denotes significantly different from the control (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean trunk flexion/extension excursion in the sagittal plane for each load condition while walking (n = 29). Error bars represent standard error. *denotes significantly different from the control condition (p < 0.05).
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