The Impact of Load per Kilogram of Body Mass Carried on Dynamic Postural Stability in Firefighter Cadets

Kollock, RO, Hale, WD, Fulk, M, Sullivan, C, Thomas, J, Sanders, G, and Peveler, W. The impact of load per kilogram of body mass carried on dynamic postural stability in firefighter cadets. J Strength Cond Res 39(9): e1105-e1111, 2025-Slips, trips, and falls continue to be one of the leading causes of injury on the fireground. The load per kilogram (kg) of body mass carried (LpBM) in equipment and gear (EQG) by firefighters may contribute to fall susceptibility. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether LpBM was a significant predictor of dynamic postural stability (DPSI) while controlling for anthropometrics such as height, body mass, and body mass index (BMI). Ninety-nine male fire cadets participated in the study. Subjects performed 3 trials of the single-leg landing and stabilization task without and with EQG. The main outcome measures were DPSI with EQG and the percentage difference in DPSI. Two separate polynomial regressions were conducted to determine whether LpBM was a significant predictor of DPSI with EQG and the percentage difference in DPSI. Body mass, height, and BMI were used as covariates in each analysis. LpBM was a significant predictor of DPSI with EQG (p < 0.001) and the percentage difference in DPSI (p < 0.001) with and without EQG. Body mass, height, or BMI do not significantly (p's > 0.05) contribute to DPSI with EQG or percentage difference in DPSI. The results suggest that firefighters with a body mass between 93 and 95 kg can expect an approximate increase of 39% in DPSI with EQG.