Are Men and Women Equally Affected by Load Carriage While Landing? Analysis of Balance in Spanish Infantry Soldiers

In this study, the effect of carrying combat equipment and a backpack on balance between men and women was analyzed by simulating a jump out of an armored fighting vehicle, together with the influence of body composition variables. Thirty-seven men and eight women participated in this study. Three landings were performed by simulating a jump from a wheeled armored vehicle carrying no load, carrying the combat equipment and backpack condition. A force plate was used to measure the amplitude and velocity displacement of the center of pressure and the stabilization time. A significant load effect was found on the total velocity and medial-lateral velocity. The weight of the combat equipment and the body composition variables did not correlate with the balance variables. Male and female soldiers showed similar body balance while carrying military combat equipment.