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Abstract
The high stress fracture occurrence in military populations has been associated with frequent load carriage activities. This study aimed to assess the influence of load carriage and of completing a load carriage training activity on gait characteristics. Thirty-two Royal Marine recruits completed a 12.8-km load carriage activity as part of their military training. Data were collected during walking in military boots, pre and post-activity, with and without the additional load (35.5 kg). Ground contact time, lower limb sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics, and electromyographic variables were obtained for each condition. When carrying load, there was increased ground contact time, increased joint flexion and joint moments, and increased plantar flexor and knee extensor muscle activity. Post-activity, there were no changes to kinematic variables, knee extensor moments were reduced, and there was evidence of plantar flexor muscle fatigue. The observed gait changes may be associated with stress fracture development.
Practitioner Summary: This study identified gait changes due to load carriage and after a military load carriage training activity. Such activities are associated with lower limb stress fractures. A pre–post study design was used. Gait mechanics changed to a greater extent when carrying load, than after completion of the activity when assessed without load.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank recruits from the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) who participated in the study. The authors would also like to acknowledge the assistance of CTCRM staff, in particular Richard Hales, Physiotherapist at CTCRM. Finally, the authors would like to thank Trish Davey and Sophie Britland from the Institute of Naval Medicine for their help in data collection at CTCRM.