Effects of Gender, Load, and Backpack on the Temporal and Kinematic Characteristics of Walking Gait. Volume 3
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of loads worn or carried and the type of backpack used on parameters of the walking gait of men and women. Eleven men and eleven women participated in the test, with walking speed controlled at 4 mi/hr, under each of the following load conditions: Load 1 - baseline (shorts, t-shirt, sneakers); Load 2-fighting gear (utility shirt and trousers, boots, ALICE fighting gear); Load 3-combat gear (Load 2 plus PASGT helmet, PASGT armor vest, simulated M16 rfile); Load 4-combat gear and 20-1b backpack load (Load 3 plus backpack with 20-lb load); Load 5 - combat gear and 35-lb backpack load (Load 4 plus an additional 15 lb in pack). The men were also tested under a sixth load condition: Load 6 - combat gear and 50-lb backpack load (Load 4 plus an additional 30 lb in pack). The subjects carried loads 4 through 6 using four different backpack systems. Two of these consisted of Army frames equipped with the standard Army pack. The third was an experimental item, a packboard made of rigid aluminum, used with the Army pack. The fourth backpack was a commercially-available, internal frame system. The dependent measures analyzed were stride length, rate, and velocity, single leg contact time, double support time, swing time, and trunk angle. Analyses of the data indicated that there was little difference in the trunk angles maintained by the men and the women.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA120101
Entities
People
- Philip E. Martin
- Richard C. Nelson
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University