Does a Standardized Load Carriage Increase Spatiotemporal Gait Asymmetries in Police Recruits? A Population-based Study.

Introduction: Although the effects of carrying loads on gait biomechanics have been well-documented, to date, little evidence has been provided whether such loads may impact spatial and temporal gait asymmetries under the different foot regions. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to examine the effects of carrying a standardized police equipment on spatiotemporal gait parameters.

Materials and methods: In this population-based study, participants were 845 first-year police recruits (age: 21.2 ± 2.3 years; height: 178.1 ± 10.2 cm; weight: 78.4 ± 11.3 kg; body mass index: 24.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2; 609 men and 236 women; 72.1% men and 27.9% women) measured in 2 conditions: (i) "no load" and (ii) "a 3.5 kg load." Spatiotemporal gait parameters were derived from the FDM Zebris pressure platform. Asymmetry was calculated as (xright-xleft)/0.5*(xright + xleft)*100%, where "x" represented a given parameter being calculated and a value closer to 0 denoted greater symmetry.

Results: When compared to "no load" condition, a standardized 3.5 kg/7.7 lb load significantly increased asymmetries in spatial gait parameters as follows: gait phases of stance (mean diff. = 1.05), load response (mean diff. = 0.31), single limb support (mean diff. = 0.56), pre-swing (mean diff. = 0.22), and swing (mean diff. = 0.90) phase, while no significant asymmetries in foot rotation, step, and stride length were observed. For temporal gait parameters, we observed significant asymmetries in step time (mean diff. = -0.01), while no differences in cadence and gait speed were shown.

Conclusions: The findings indicate that the additional load of 3.5 kg/7.7 lb is more likely to increase asymmetries in spatial gait cycle components, opposed to temporal parameters. Thus, external police load may have hazardous effects in increasing overall body asymmetry, which may lead to a higher injury risk and a decreased performance for completing specific everyday tasks.