1C1-3 The Effect of Carrying a Military Backpack on a Transverse Slope and Sand Surface on Lower Limb Kinetics
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: The objective of this study was to understand gait kinetics while walking on a sand surface (vs. hard surface) with wearing a traditional military ALICE backpack (vs. modularized MOLLE backpack). Twenty healthy male students participated in this study. Each participant completed a total of 72 trials (3 good trials for each testing configuration). These testing conditions were combinations of two surface types (hard, sand), two transverse slopes (flat, 10°), two walking speeds (self-selected, 4 km/h), and three load conditions (no load, MOLLE, ALICE). Walking on sand surface required a greater medial-lateral ground reaction force and a greater maximum vertical impact force. Sand surface gait also resulted in a greater mean knee abduction/adduction moment. Hard surface gait resulted in a greater maximum vertical thrust force, a greater maximum braking force, and a greater maximum propulsive force. In terms of backpack effect comparison, mean hip abduction/adduction moment was greater while wearing the ALICE than the MOLLE. These results suggest that walking on sand with a backpack may increase the potential for injuries from overuse and falls. Hard surface walking on the other hand may increase the risk of foot strain and foot blisters.
DOI: 10.5100/jje.51.s398
Institutions: University of Utah, Ministry of National Defense
Language: English
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1203490635