How Different Load Carriage Scenarios Impact the Gait in Police Officers

The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects on gait of carrying different standardized police loads. In this cross-sectional study, we randomly recruited 30 special police officers. Spatiotemporal and kinetic gait changes were evaluated by using the Zebris FDM pressure platform, when load carriage ranged from 5 to 45 kg. Heavier loading conditions significantly increased ground reaction forces and plantar pressures for both feet beneath the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions of the foot. However, as load increased there were no significant changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters. This study shows that heavier loads carried by special police officers significantly increase ground reaction forces and plantar pressures under different foot regions. Thus, special interventions aiming to lower kinetic gait parameters throughout a different ergonomics and design of standardized equipment should be considered.