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Tactical Load Carriage

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Gender Differences In Load Carriage Injuries Of Australian Army Soldiers, Rob Marc Orr Dr, Rodney Pope Dr Mar 2015

Gender Differences In Load Carriage Injuries Of Australian Army Soldiers, Rob Marc Orr Dr, Rodney Pope Dr

Rob Marc Orr

BACKGROUND: Soldiers are required to carry loads of up to 50kg or more while performing combat tasks, often in unpredictable and hostile environments. Removal of gender restrictions in combat arms trades of military forces, combined with the changing nature of warfare, means female soldiers are more frequently exposed to heavy military load carriage. PURPOSE: To determine relative risks and patterns of injuries, including serious personal injuries (SPI), associated with contemporary military load carriage in female compared to male soldiers. METHODS: Using key search terms, the Australian Regular Army’s (ARA) workplace injury database was searched to identify all reported injuries sustained …


Gender Differences In Load Carriage Injuries Of Australian Army Soldiers, Rob Marc Orr Dr, Rodney Pope Dr Mar 2015

Gender Differences In Load Carriage Injuries Of Australian Army Soldiers, Rob Marc Orr Dr, Rodney Pope Dr

Rodney P Pope

BACKGROUND: Soldiers are required to carry loads of up to 50kg or more while performing combat tasks, often in unpredictable and hostile environments. Removal of gender restrictions in combat arms trades of military forces, combined with the changing nature of warfare, means female soldiers are more frequently exposed to heavy military load carriage. PURPOSE: To determine relative risks and patterns of injuries, including serious personal injuries (SPI), associated with contemporary military load carriage in female compared to male soldiers. METHODS: Using key search terms, the Australian Regular Army’s (ARA) workplace injury database was searched to identify all reported injuries sustained …


Soldier Load Carriage: An Investigation Into The Load Carriage Conditioning Practices Of The Australian Regular Army, Rob Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle Mar 2015

Soldier Load Carriage: An Investigation Into The Load Carriage Conditioning Practices Of The Australian Regular Army, Rob Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rodney P Pope

No abstract provided.


Soldier Occupational Load Carriage – A Narrative Review Of Associated Injuries, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle Mar 2015

Soldier Occupational Load Carriage – A Narrative Review Of Associated Injuries, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rodney P Pope

This narrative review examines injuries sustained by soldiers undertaking occupational load carriage tasks. Military soldiers are required to carry increasingly heavier occupational loads. These loads have been found to increase the physiological cost to the soldier and alter their gait mechanics. Aggregated research findings suggest that the lower limbs are the most frequent anatomical site of injury associated with load carriage. While foot blisters are common, other prevalent lower limb injuries include stress fractures, knee and foot pain, and neuropathies, like digitalgia and meralgia. Shoulder neuropathies (brachial plexus palsy) and lower back injuries are not uncommon. Soldier occupational load carriage …


Load Carriage: An Integrated Risk Management Approach., Robin M. Orr Aug 2014

Load Carriage: An Integrated Risk Management Approach., Robin M. Orr

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


The Operational Load Carriage Context Of The Australian Army Soldier, Rob Orr, R. Pope, V. Johnston, J. Coyle Dec 2012

The Operational Load Carriage Context Of The Australian Army Soldier, Rob Orr, R. Pope, V. Johnston, J. Coyle

Rob Marc Orr

Military soldiers are required to carry loads as part of their occupation. These loads have led to injuries and even mortalities on the battlefield (Orr et al., 2011). Recent evidence suggests that the absolute loads carried by Australian Army soldiers are increasing (Orr, et al., 2010). The intent of this study was to investigate the loads can ied by Australian Regular Army soldiers on operations and the contexts in which these loads are carried.


Load Carriage For The Tactical Operator: Impacts And Conditioning - A Review, Rob Marc Orr Nov 2012

Load Carriage For The Tactical Operator: Impacts And Conditioning - A Review, Rob Marc Orr

Rob Marc Orr

Tactical operators are required to carry loads as part of their occupations. Carriage of these loads have been associated with causing physical injuries to the carrier and impairing their ability to perform occupational tasks. One potential means of negating these risks associated with load carriage tasks is through physically conditioning the carrier. Through use of the Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type (F.I.T.T.) formula this review explored the literature to determine the optimal conditioning stimulus to enhance the resilience of tactical operators required to perform load carriage tasks. It was determined that a conditioning stimulus of one load carriage session every …


Load Carriage: Impacts And Conditioning, Rob Orr Nov 2012

Load Carriage: Impacts And Conditioning, Rob Orr

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


Soldier Load Carriage: An Investigation Into The Load Carriage Conditioning Practices Of The Australian Regular Army, Rob Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle Oct 2012

Soldier Load Carriage: An Investigation Into The Load Carriage Conditioning Practices Of The Australian Regular Army, Rob Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


The Australian Army Load Carriage Context: A Challenge For Defence Capability, Rob Orr Oct 2012

The Australian Army Load Carriage Context: A Challenge For Defence Capability, Rob Orr

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


Load Carriage And The Female Soldier, Rob Marc Orr, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle, Rodney Pope Jun 2011

Load Carriage And The Female Soldier, Rob Marc Orr, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle, Rodney Pope

Rob Marc Orr

This paper reviews the physiological, biomechanical and health impacts of load carriage on the female soldier and extends to include issues acknowledged as impacting on the female athlete and hence the female soldier. Physiological factors such as fat mass, strength, aerobic endurance and biomechanical factors such as stride length and forward lean have the potential to increase the energy cost of load carriage and cause injury. The female athlete triad, iron deficiency, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and military equipment issues can likewise reduce female soldier performance and increase injury risk. Research evidence is presented to inform the development and implementation …


Load Carriage And Its Force Impact, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Verenina Johnston, Julia Coyle Dec 2010

Load Carriage And Its Force Impact, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Verenina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rodney P Pope

Extract:
Just as history records that military personnel have been carrying heavy loads for over two millennia (Orr, 2010), so too does it show their impact on military force sustainment and combat effectiveness. Around 800BC, the heavy loads carried by Assyrian soldiers reduced their mobility and led them to experiment continually with their shields in order to lighten their loads (Gabriel, 2002). Around 400BC, the long marches of Cyrus’ ‘infamous 10,000’, an army of Greek mercenaries accompanied by Xenophon, would have resulted in numerous stress fractures, torn ligaments, muscle damage, blisters and abrasions. While some of these injuries can be …


Load Carriage And Its Force Impact, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Verenina Johnston, Julia Coyle Dec 2010

Load Carriage And Its Force Impact, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Verenina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rob Marc Orr

Extract:
Just as history records that military personnel have been carrying heavy loads for over two millennia (Orr, 2010), so too does it show their impact on military force sustainment and combat effectiveness. Around 800BC, the heavy loads carried by Assyrian soldiers reduced their mobility and led them to experiment continually with their shields in order to lighten their loads (Gabriel, 2002). Around 400BC, the long marches of Cyrus’ ‘infamous 10,000’, an army of Greek mercenaries accompanied by Xenophon, would have resulted in numerous stress fractures, torn ligaments, muscle damage, blisters and abrasions. While some of these injuries can be …


Human Dimensions Of Heavy Load Carriage, J. Drain, R. Orr, D. Billing, S. Rudzki Nov 2010

Human Dimensions Of Heavy Load Carriage, J. Drain, R. Orr, D. Billing, S. Rudzki

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


Load Carriage: Minimising Soldier Injuries Through Physical Conditioning - A Narrative Review, R. M. Orr, R. Pope, V. Johnston, J. Coyle Aug 2010

Load Carriage: Minimising Soldier Injuries Through Physical Conditioning - A Narrative Review, R. M. Orr, R. Pope, V. Johnston, J. Coyle

Rob Marc Orr

No abstract provided.


Load Carriage: Minimising Soldier Injuries Through Physical Conditioning - A Narrative Review, Rob M. Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle Jun 2010

Load Carriage: Minimising Soldier Injuries Through Physical Conditioning - A Narrative Review, Rob M. Orr, Rodney Pope, Venerina Johnston, Julia Coyle

Rodney P Pope

Background: With soldiers carrying increasing loads, physical conditioning may provide one means of reducing injuries and increasing the ability to train, maintain and retain soldiers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the current literature on physical conditioning for load carriage and present the findings in a manner that will allow physical conditioning practitioners a means of applying them in a conditioning program.

Methods: Using key search terms, a literature search of academic databases (both civilian and military) was conducted, with additional relevant literature sought from military and civilian colleagues. Gathered papers were assessed against several key criteria …


The History Of The Soldier's Load, Rob Marc Orr Dec 2009

The History Of The Soldier's Load, Rob Marc Orr

Rob Marc Orr

From the loads carried by the armies of antiquity to today’s modern forces, this article explores and critically analyses soldier load carriage over two millennia. Historical misconceptions appearing in some military documents and literature regarding the context and weight of the soldier’s load are also discussed. The author looks at how, even with changes in logistic practices, technology and the very nature of warfare, the soldier is still a beast of burden and suggests that relying on improved load carriage logistical aides and changes to equipment may not be the answer to this age-old problem.