The Effects of Body Armor and Load-Carrying Equipment on Psychomotor Performance
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the differential effects of load-carrying equipment (LCE) and two types of fragmentation protective body armor (STD B and CM/ICM) on body flexibility, rate of movement, psychomotor coordination, manual dexterity, and effort exerted for task performance. Twelve Army enlisted men, outfitted in a modified cold-wet uniform, performed the battery of 14 tasks under each of the following clothing conditions: cold-wet uniform alone; STD B Armor; CM/ICM Armor; LCE; STD B Armor and LCE; CM/ICM Armor and LCE. In general, performance levels on the task battery were highest when the cold-wet clothing was worn without any additional equipment and lowest when STD B Armor was worn in conjunction with LCE. Body flexibility was the primary aspect of performance affected by the clothing conditions. Flexibility movements were hampered to some extent by the addition of either armor or LCE and, to a greater extent, by the combination of both. In responding to a questionnaire concerning armor and LCE design characteristics, the subjects' rankings of the flexibility of each clothing condition closely paralleled their performance levels on the task battery. Interferences with specific flexibility movements were attributable to such item design characteristics as collar height and thickness and item flexibility.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA014978
Entities
People
- Carolyn K. Bensel
- John M. Lockhart
Organizations
- United States Army Soldier Systems Center