title: Wheeled assistive device for load carriage - the effects on human gait and biomechanics.
abstract: Soldiers are often required to carry loads which impose biomechanical strain on the human body. This can adversely affect physical performances. Recently, wheel-based devices (WBD) were designed to reduce the load on the soldier. In the present study, a prototype of this newly developed WBD was evaluated. Thirteen volunteers performed three exercise protocols on a treadmill as follows: (1) no load; (2) carrying 40% of their bodyweight with a backpack or; (3) with the WBD. Data acquisition included: gait parameters, vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) and contact pressure acting on the shoulder. Biomechanical analysis showed that the WBD decreased the contact pressure on the shoulder and the VGRF. However, greater gait variability, in terms of cycle-to-cycle gait line generation, was observed, which might point to a difficulty in maintaining stability while walking. The study suggests that WBD has a potential to reduce the biomechanical strain on the soldier while carrying heavy loads. Future potential adjustments for the development of a better WBD-based solution are suggested. Practitioner Summary: The present research observed the potential biomechanical advantages of using a wheel-based device designed to reduce the load on the soldier. It contributed to a lower mechanical force on the soldier's body, yet causing modulations in gait control. Future design adjustments should be made to optimise the platform.
authors.affiliation: a The Warrior Health Research Institute, Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps , Ramat Gan , Israel.|b Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.|c Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering , Tel Aviv University , Israel.
authors.forename: Itay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ketko
authors.affiliation: d The Center of Advanced Technologies in Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.|e Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.|f Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University , Ramat Gan , Israel.|g Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Meir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plotnik
authors.affiliation: a The Warrior Health Research Institute, Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps , Ramat Gan , Israel.|b Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yanovich
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering , Tel Aviv University , Israel.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gefen
authors.affiliation: b Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heled
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012782:Shoulder; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Soldier; backpack; gait variability; ground reaction forces; pressure