Biomechanical and physiological effects of female soldier load carriage: A scoping review

• Published in: Applied ergonomics Vol. 105; p. 103837
• Main Authors: Wendland, Rebecca, Bossi, Linda, Oliver, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Biomechanics; Female; Load carriage; Military; Physiology; Biomechanics; Female; Physiology; Load carriage; Military
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103837

Loads carried by military populations can affect those of smaller stature, such as the average female, due to the higher percentage of body weight the loads represent. Despite this, most load carriage research is performed on males. Peer reviewed articles were collected from four databases to summarize available research on biomechanical and physiological effects of load carriage on females in the military. Extraction and thematic analysis were performed on 18 articles. 39% looked at biomechanical differences between loads in females, 61% looked at how the same load affected males and females, 44% looked at sex-by-load interaction effects, and 72% discussed impacts of load on females. The research revealed that military load carriage affects the biomechanics and physiology differently in females and to a greater extent than in males. Several gaps in available literature were found. Very few studies used military participants, military equipment, and/or employed occupationally relevant data collection methodologies. •Only 18 papers met inclusion/exclusion criteria of which 11 studied sex comparisons.•Females had different biomechanical and physiological responses to load than males.•Injury risk due to military load carriage is higher in females than males.•Studies infrequently used military participants or equipment.•Occupationally relevant data collection methods were used rarely.