{
  "abstract": "Introduction Carrying heavy loads and body armour may alter posture and increase the risk of low back pain in military personnel. This observational study aimed to assess how two designs of body armour affect posture and pain in German soldiers following loaded marches.Methods In this prospective observational study, 20 soldiers (male healthy volunteers) completed three 12-km marches under three conditions: without body armour (control), with old-design armour and with new-design armour featuring a hip belt. Spinal posture (forward trunk lean as primary outcome) and pain were assessed using video rasterstereography and visual analogue scales before and after each march.Results Significant differences in forward trunk lean were observed with new-design armour compared with control (mean difference 6.1 mm, p=0.006) and old-design armour (mean difference 5.4 mm, p=0.046). Pain increased significantly after marching with old-design armour (lumbar pain: p<0.01; thoracic pain: p=0.01), but not with the new-design armour.Conclusion Body armour design notably affects spinal posture and pain. Although the new design increased forward trunk lean, it did not significantly increase pain, suggesting potential ergonomic advantages.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Zentrum für integrierte Rehabilitation, Rehabilitationskrankenhaus Ulm gGmbH, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Patricia Lang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, and Pain Therapy, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "G Dethloff"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Center for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Ingolstadt GmbH, Ingolstadt, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "H-G Palm"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, Reconstructive and Septic Surgery, and Sports Traumatology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "K Dallacker-Losensky"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Central Hospital Management, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "B Friemert"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "M-A Westhoff"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, Reconstructive and Septic Surgery, and Sports Traumatology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "H-J Riesner"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Influence of body armour and march loads on posture in German soldiers",
  "uid": "c86c33c9-be89-5611-a5ff-65c927a0576f"
}