Related Experiment Videos
Transverse plane kinetics during treadmill walking with and without a load.
M LaFiandra1, K G Holt, R C Wagenaar
1Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, USA. michael.lafiandra@na.amedd.army.mil
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|February 8, 2002
Summary
Wearing a backpack significantly increases upper and lower body torque during walking. This suggests that minimizing upper body torque is a key adaptation for injury prevention when carrying loads.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Movement Analysis
- Ergonomics
Background:
- During unloaded walking, the upper and lower body counter-rotate to minimize net angular momentum.
- Load carriage reduces this counter-rotation, indicating a more rigid link between body segments.
- This study investigated the impact of backpack load on body torque and coordination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the effects of backpack load carriage on transverse plane upper and lower body torque.
- To examine how load carriage influences the coordination between upper and lower body segments during walking.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy adults walked on a treadmill at various speeds (0.6-1.6 m/s) with and without a backpack (40% body mass).
- Kinematic data were collected, and upper and lower body torque were calculated based on angular acceleration and moment of inertia.
Main Results:
- Load carriage resulted in significantly higher upper and lower body torque compared to unloaded walking.
- Upper body torque increased by 225%, while upper body moment of inertia increased by 400% during load carriage.
Conclusions:
- The observed increase in torque during load carriage suggests a biomechanical strategy to minimize upper body torque.
- Understanding these torque dynamics and coordination changes may offer insights into injury reduction strategies for load carriage activities.