INTRODUCTION: Although the effects of carrying loads on gait biomechanics have been well-documented, to date, little evidence has been provided whether such loads may impact spatial and temporal gait asymmetries under the different foot regions. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to examine the effects of carrying a standardized police equipment on spatiotemporal gait parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this population-based study, participants were 845 first-year police recruits (age: 21.2 ± 2.3 years; height: 178.1 ± 10.2 cm; weight: 78.4 ± 11.3 kg; body mass index: 24.7 ± 3.2 kg/m2; 609 men and 236 women; 72.1% men and 27.9% women) measured in 2 conditions: (i) "no load" and (ii) "a 3.5 kg load." Spatiotemporal gait parameters were derived from the FDM Zebris pressure platform. Asymmetry was calculated as (xright-xleft)/0.5*(xright + xleft)*100%, where "x" represented a given parameter being calculated and a value closer to 0 denoted greater symmetry. RESULTS: When compared to "no load" condition, a standardized 3.5 kg/7.7 lb load significantly increased asymmetries in spatial gait parameters as follows: gait phases of stance (mean diff. = 1.05), load response (mean diff. = 0.31), single limb support (mean diff. = 0.56), pre-swing (mean diff. = 0.22), and swing (mean diff. = 0.90) phase, while no significant asymmetries in foot rotation, step, and stride length were observed. For temporal gait parameters, we observed significant asymmetries in step time (mean diff. = -0.01), while no differences in cadence and gait speed were shown. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the additional load of 3.5 kg/7.7 lb is more likely to increase asymmetries in spatial gait cycle components, opposed to temporal parameters. Thus, external police load may have hazardous effects in increasing overall body asymmetry, which may lead to a higher injury risk and a decreased performance for completing specific everyday tasks.

• MeSH
• biomechanika fyziologie   MeSH
• chůze (způsob) * fyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• policie * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• zatížení muskuloskeletálního systému * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Although evidence indicates that load carriage may have an influence on walking patterns, the specific impacts of progressively increased loads on spatial and temporal gait asymmetries remain underexplored. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine whether an increased load carriage had an effect on spatiotemporal gait asymmetries among intervention police officers. METHODS: For the purpose of this study, 96 male intervention police officers were recruited and assessed under four load conditions: (i) "No load", (ii) "a 5 kg load", (iii) "a 25 kg load", and (iv) "a 45 kg load". Spatial and temporal gait parameters were measured using a pedobarographic platform (Zebris FDM). The spatial and temporal gait parameters, along with the ground reaction forces beneath different foot regions, were examined. The gait asymmetry for each parameter was calculated using the formula (xright - xleft)/0.5 × (xright + xleft)*100%, where "x" represents the numerical value of each parameter for the left and right sides of the body. RESULTS: The findings indicated no statistically significant differences in the spatiotemporal parameters, nor ground reaction force gait asymmetries between the left and right foot, during walking under a progressively increased load carriage. Additionally, the parameter values for both the left and right sides of the body remained consistent, with a high intercorrelation observed across all of the loading conditions. The gait speed and ground reaction forces, which served as covariates, did not significantly change the spatiotemporal gait asymmetries. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study demonstrates that an increased load carriage did not lead to a progressive rise in spatiotemporal gait asymmetries in professional intervention police officers. However, further examination using an advanced 3-D gait analysis and an assessment of physiological patterns and adaptations is recommended to identify and confirm the key factors influencing gait asymmetry.

• Klíčová slova
• asymmetry index, differences, specialized populations, standardized load carriage,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Although carrying external load has negative effects on gait biomechanics, little evidence has been provided regarding its impact on body asymmetry. The main purpose of the present study was to examine, whether standardized equipment produced greater gait asymmetries in ground reaction force and plantar pressure. METHODS: For the purpose of this study, we recruited 845 police recruits (609 men and 236 women; 72.1% men and 27.9% women) measured in two conditions: (i) 'no load' and (ii) 'a 3.5 kg load'. Absolute values in ground reaction forces and plantar pressures beneath the different foot regions were assessed with pedobarographic platform (Zebris FDM). Asymmetry was calculated as (xright - xleft)/0.5 × (xright + xleft) × 100%, where 'x' represented a given parameter being calculated and a value closer to 0 denoted greater symmetry. RESULTS: Significant differences in ground reaction forces and plantar pressures between the left and right foot were observed, when adding 'a 3.5 kg load'. Compared to the 'no load' condition, carrying 'a 3.5 kg load' significantly increased gait asymmetries for maximal ground reaction forces beneath the forefoot (ES = 0.29), midfoot (ES = 0.20) and hindfoot (ES = 0.19) regions of the foot. For maximal plantar pressures, only the asymmetry beneath the midfoot region of the foot significantly increased (ES = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study indicate that 'a 3.5 kg load' significantly increases ground reaction force and plantar pressure gait asymmetries beneath the forefoot and midfoot regions, compared to 'no load' condition. Due to higher loads, increases in kinetic gait asymmetries may have negative effects on future pain and discomfort in the foot area, possibly causing stress fractures and deviated gait biomechanics in police recruits.

• Klíčová slova
• effect size, load carriage, police equipment, special populations, symmetry,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This article takes up a series of questionnaire researches focusing on the importance of and the need for voluntary fire brigades in the view of various target groups. The questionnaires are part of a solution of the project IP44/2016/VSBM. The study based on the project conducts an analysis of possibilities of how to develop voluntary municipal fire brigades in the view of the main representatives of the respective municipalities, namely persons in authority, primarily chairmen and commanding officers. Since 2014, voluntary municipal fire brigades have been supported by the state in the form of a flat rate per organisation. In previous years, the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic provided a lot of fire engines, flood equipment trailers and other fire brigade technical equipment. Some questions concerning the activity of organising firemen, e.g. permission for members of voluntary municipal fire brigades to intervene in the event of extraordinary events, are still not solved. This article summarizes possibilities for optimizing voluntary municipal fire brigades, and opinions of persons in authority of voluntary municipal fire brigades regarding their position within the Integrated Rescue System of the Slovak Republic.

Cet article décrypte une série de questionnaires ayant pour but d ‘évaluer la nécessité de mise en place de brigades de sapeurs- pompiers volontaire et leurs compétences. Ce questionnaire représente une partie du projet IP44/2016/VBSM. Le but est d’étudier comment les édiles municipaux et le commandement opérationnel voient la mise en place de ces brigades, financées depuis 2014 sous forme d’une dotation régalienne. Auparavant, le ministère de l’intérieur Slovaque avait distribué de nombreux engins et autres matériel (sans trop de réflexion ni de suivi semble t’il- NDRLF). Certaines questions sur le champ d’activité des sapeurs- pompiers, telles leur rôle en cas de catastrophe, restent sans réponse. Le point de vue des autorités quant au rôle des brigades municipales de sapeurs- pompiers volontaires dans le système de secours intégré de la république Slovaque et aux moyens nécessaire est ici détaillé.

• Klíčová slova
• developing possibilities, persons in authority, voluntary municipal fire brigades,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH