Publication Abstract
Muscle Activity During Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Workload
Chander, H., Knight, A., Garner, J. C., Wade, C., DeBusk, H., Wilson, S. J., Gdovin, J. R., Hill, C. M., & Carruth, D. W. (2017). Muscle Activity During Postural Stability Tasks: Role of Military Footwear and Workload. Proceedings of the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Conference. Boulder, CO. 296-297.
Abstract
The term “military personnel” is a large umbrella
term for all United States service members regardless
of assigned duties. Military personnel jobs vary from
infantry, medical personnel, mechanics, flight
controllers, pilots and other personnel. Many of the
military occupations consist of environments that are
further inclusive in extrinsic factors such as diverse
terrains, lack of light, increased decibel range,
unstable ground surfaces and intrinsic factors such as
fatiguing workloads including load carriage. Proper
postural control and slip responses are essential in
military settings in order to prevent falls. The US
Army Annual Injury Epidemiology Report in 2008
found 18.4% of all causes of injuries were attributed
to falls/near falls [1]. Slips, trips and falls (STFs) are
a consequence of failure of normal locomotion and
equilibrium recovery following an induced
imbalance [2]. During a slip, there are correctional
responses, such as increased knee flexion, and ankle
plantar flexion. Footwear characteristics such as the
boot shaft height, mass, mid-sole hardness and
thickness, elevated heels and type of material of the
footwear influence balance and gait and ultimately
the slip propensity. Intrinsic factors such as
decrements of the postural control systems can
contribute to falls. Dysfunction in the visual,
vestibular, somatosensory or the musculoskeletal
system and any undue muscular fatigue due to
excessive workload in the military environment can
potentially lead to falls. Thus, the purpose of this
study was to examine kinematics of the lower
extremity during slip events while wearing military
footwear before and after a simulated military
workload.