Characterizing the biomechanical, physiological, and comfort impact of military torso-borne loads for female participants and manikin-based simulations

Torso-borne equipment (TBE) such as body armour, load carriage vests, and rucksacks negatively affect individual biomechanics and physiology. Injury risk, discomfort, and performance decrements are increased in females. However, there is a lack of research investigating female load carriage using occupationally relevant equipment, loads, and tasks. Thus, the purpose of this thesis was to compare the efficacy of a reduced coverage armour system and full torso coverage armour system for females using occupationally relevant equipment, load, and tasks and to partially validate a female manikin designed to assess TBE. This work could help inform interventions such as conditioning strategies and future equipment design for female soldiers.
\nThe first portion of the thesis compared range of motion, march kinematics, shoulder and hip skin pressures on the march, perceived discomfort on the march, and time to traverse a wall in a baseline and two in-service TBE (i.e., Reduced Coverage (RC) and Full Torso Coverage (FTC)). Eight varsity-level athletes (20.1±1.7y, 171.4±5cm, 70.7±8.1kg) completed the tasks in a repeated measures study design. Linear mixed-effects model ANOVAs followed by Tukey’s post-hoc procedures when appropriate were performed (p<0.05). Results showed that the RC performed better or the same as the FTC for most outcome measures. Reducing torso coverage of TBE and altering bulk location could improve mobility performance and may mitigate injury risk for females as well as smaller males. 
\nThe second part of the study provided a preliminary validation for a newly commissioned female manikin designed by Queen’s University. The validation compared results between the female manikin and a physically active female (24y, 166.0cm, 66.3kg) both of whom were approximately the same size as 50th percentile females in the Canadian Armed Forces. For both the manikin and human, Clothe-the-Soldier equipment and pack were used during a march at a step frequency of 1.8 steps/s to collect and compare pack strap forces at five locations, shoulder and hip skin pressures, and body-payload relative motion. To look for differences between the manikin and human, mean values were compared coupled with visual analyses of average waveforms over a gait cycle. Two separate sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the effects of variable strap forces and lean angles on outcome measures. The human completed the march over four separate strap forces settings (i.e., 26N, 36N, 46N, 56N) where outcome measures were shoulder and hip skin pressures and body-payload relative motion. The manikin completed the march over four different lean angles (i.e., 6.7°, 10.6°, 14.5°, 18.4°) where outcome measures were pack strap forces at five locations, shoulder and hip skin pressures, and body-payload relative motion. It was found that manikin lean angles of 6.7-18.4° and human strap force between 35N and 54N had minimal effects on the outcome measures/conclusions when wearing the tested TBE. The manikin was able to replicate the human results for most outcome measures except for peak pressures at the shoulders and hips. Though more validation is required, initial results suggest that the manikin can be used for TBE assessment.

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