Common law enforcement load carriage systems have limited acute effects on postural stability and muscle activity

Megan N. Sax van der Weyden, James W. Kearney, Nelson Cortes, Orlando Fernandes, Joel R. Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Law enforcement officers are inherently at a high risk of injury and the loads they must carry during their occupational duties further increase their injury risk. It is unknown how different methods of carrying a law enforcement officer's load influence factors related to injury risk. This study assessed the effects of common law enforcement load carriage systems on muscular activity and postural stability while standing. Twenty-four participants performed single and dual-task (i.e. concurrent performance of cognitive tasks) standing while wearing a duty belt, tactical vest, and no load. The postural stability and muscle activity were measured and effects of condition and task examined. Dual task standing decreased postural stability and increased muscular activity. The belt and vest (7.2 kg each) increased muscle activity compared to control for the right abdominals, low back, right thigh. The duty belt resulted in less muscle activity in the right abdominals but more muscle activity in the left multifidus compared to the control. The findings indicate that common law enforcement load carriage systems increase muscular activity but do not affect postural stability. However, the lack of differences between the duty belt and tactical vest did not provide clear support for one load carriage system versus the other.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104091
Pages (from-to)104091
JournalApplied Ergonomics
Volume113
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Police
  • Risk factors
  • Work performance
  • Humans
  • Thigh
  • Muscles
  • Law Enforcement
  • Standing Position

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