title: Effect of firefighters' personal protective equipment on gait.
abstract: The biomechanical experiment with eight male and four female firefighters demonstrates that the effect of adding essential equipment: turnout ensemble, self-contained breathing apparatus, and boots (leather and rubber boots), significantly restricts foot pronation. This finding is supported by a decrease in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral excursion of center of plantar pressure (COP) trajectory during walking. The accumulation of this equipment decreases COP velocity and increases foot-ground contact time and stride time, indicating increased gait instability. An increase in the flexing resistance of the boots is the major contributor to restricted foot pronation and gait instability as evidenced by the greater decrease in excursion of COP in leather boots (greater flexing resistance) than in rubber boots (lower resistance). The leather boots also shows the greatest increase in foot contact time and stride time. These negative impacts can increase musculoskeletal injuries in unfavorable fire ground environments.
authors: Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Electronic address: hp347@cornell.edu.
authors: Huiju
authors: H
authors: Park
authors: Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Electronic address: sk798@cornell.edu.
authors: Seonyoung
authors: S
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Electronic address: kdm88@cornell.edu.
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Morris
authors: Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Electronic address: mdv3@cornell.edu.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Moukperian
authors: Korea Institute of Sports Science, San223-19, Gongneung-dong Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: moonyj@sports.re.kr.
authors: Youngjin
authors: Y
authors: Moon
authors: International Personnel Protection Inc., P. O. Box 92493, Austin, TX 78709-2493, USA. Electronic address: intlperpro@aol.com.
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Stull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D061388:Firefighters; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Firefighters; Foot; Gait