Tactical vests worn by law enforcement: is this improving stability for optimal job performance?
Andrew Shim1, David Shannon2, Mike Waller3
1Department of Kinesiology & Exercise Science, College of Saint Mary, USA.
Abstract:
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether equipped tactical vests would improve postural stability of law enforcement officers (LEOs) versus a duty belt or without either condition. Methods. Volunteers were police officers (n = 25, 22 males, three females; age 42.4 ± 3.2 years; weight 101.65 ± 19.4 kg; height 178.92 ± 8.2 cm). The Institutional Review Board approved the investigation. A Bertec posturography plate (Bertec Inc., USA) determined four center of pressure (CoP) scores - eyes open stable surface (EOSS), eyes closed stable surface (ECSS), eyes open perturbed surface (EOPS), eyes closed perturbed surface (ECPS) - and four limit of stability (LoS) scores - frontal plane (LoSF), posterior plane (LoSP), left sagittal plane (LoSL), right sagittal plane (LoSR). Results. A repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) demonstrated no statistical difference within subject group CoP scores EOSS (p = 0.723), ECSS (p = 0.252), EOPS (p = 0.079) and ECPS (p = 0.137). Comparing between groups, the tactical vest demonstrated significance over the other CoP group conditions with ECPS (p = 0.001). The duty belt group showed significance with ECSS (p = 0.001). LoS variables indicated no significant results between groups. Conclusion. Tactical vests demonstrated improvements in ECPS scores (p = 0.001) compared to either group.
Related Concept Videos
Optimal Arousal Theory
Inverted U-Shaped Performance Curve
The...
Eyewitness Memory
One such error is memory distortion, which occurs because human memory does not function...
Personal Protective Equipment
Cognitive Dissonance
Plastic Behavior


