Lightening the load
Changing the position of a load so it sits higher up could help people who have to carry heavy backpacks. A study examined the different metabolic cost of walking with loads placed in higher and lower positions.
It found that when the load was placed in a high vertical position, the metabolic rate was reduced by 4.3% compared to having it in a lower place. The study, published in the journal Ergonomics, could have implications for people who frequently carry heavy backpacks, such as military personnel and emergency teams.
The researchers studied healthy participants walking on a treadmill with loads of 13.8kg and 23.4kg carried in different positions. The location of the load made no difference to metabolic rate recorded with the lower weight, but they found a reduction in the rate for the heavier weight.
The study said: “Load placement within a backpack affects the biomechanics of load carriage. We experimentally tested the metabolic cost of high and low load placement during walking and found the high position to be less costly with large loads. Loading high may be the optimal technique for carrying heavy backpacks.”
