title: Effects of wearing different personal equipment on force distribution at the plantar surface of the foot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The wearing of personal equipment can cause specific changes in muscle activity and posture. In the present study, we investigated the influence of differences in equipment related weight loading and load distribution on plantar pressure. In addition, we studied functional effects of wearing different equipment with a particular focus on relevant changes in foot shape.
  
  
  METHODS
  Static and dynamic pedobarography were performed on 31 male soldiers carrying increasing weights consisting of different items of equipment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pressure acting on the plantar surface of the foot increased with higher loading, both under static and dynamic conditions (p < 0.05). We observed an increase in the contact area (p < 0.05) and an influence of load distribution through different ways to carry the rifle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wearing of heavier weights leads to an increase in plantar pressure and contact area. This may be caused by flattening of the transverse and longitudinal arches. The effects are more evident in subjects with flat feet deformities which seem to flatten at an earlier load condition with a greater amount compared to subjects with normal arches. Improving load distribution should be a main goal in the development of military equipment in order to prevent injuries or functional disorders of the lower extremity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rostock, Doberaner Straße 142, 18057 Rostock, Germany. christoph.schulze@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woitge
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Finze
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mittelmeier
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bader
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D011312:Pressure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult