Load Carriage and Changes in Spatiotemporal and Kinetic Biomechanical Foot Parameters during Quiet Stance in a Large Sample of Police Recruits
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Applied Sciences-Basel |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/8/3274 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app14083274 |
| Keywords | special population; foot characteristics; center of pressure; statics; equipment; changes |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Background: Little evidence has been provided regarding the effects of carrying standardized load equipment and foot parameters during quiet standing. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to examine whether a load carriage might impact static foot parameters in police recruits. Methods: Eight hundred and forty-five police recruits (27.9% women) were tested in 'no load' vs. standardized '3.5 kg load' conditions. Foot characteristics during standing were assessed with the Zebris FDM pedobarographic pressure platform. Results: Carrying a 3.5 kg load significantly increased the 95% confidence ellipse area (triangle = 15.0%, p = 0.009), the center of pressure path length (triangle = 3.3%, p = 0.023) and average velocity (triangle = 11.1%, p = 0.014), the length of the minor axis (triangle = 8.2%, p < 0.009) and the deviation in the X (triangle = 12.4%, p = 0.005) and Y (triangle = 50.0%, p < 0.001) axes. For relative ground reaction forces, a significant increase in the left forefoot (triangle = 2.0%, p = 0.002) and a decrease in the left hindfoot (triangle = -2.0%, p = 0.002) were shown. No significant changes in relative ground reaction forces beneath the forefoot and hindfoot regions for the right foot were observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that spatial and temporal foot parameters may be more prone to change while carrying heavy loads, especially the center of pressure characteristics. |