Abstract
Aim: to assess sex-specific differences in wearability and comfort when wearing body armour.
Design: A randomized counter-balanced study.
Method: Ten participants (females n = 6, mean height = 167.97 ± 3.67 cm, mean mass = 65.30 ± 10.57 kg: males n = 4, mean height = 82.15 ± 6.98 cm, mean weight = 85.55 ± 9.96 kg) were included following eligibility criteria and assessed against occupational tasks for which they gave subjective feedback when wearing a law enforcement (2.1 kg) and military (6.4 kg) body armour system. Subjective feedback was provided on mannequin sketches and compared between sexes and body armour types. Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee provided ethics approval (RO15803).
Results: Greater negative feedback was received, subjectively, from both sexes regarding the military body armour. Female participants recorded areas of most discomfort to include the neck, shoulder, chest, and hip, whilst males recorded areas to be the neck, shoulder, and abdomen. Females reported greater subjective concerns than males regarding body armour fit.
Conclusion: With levels of discomfort associated with injury in police officers wearing body armour, the comfort and fit of body armour and differences between sexes must be considered. These differences require consideration when returning injured officers back to work, especially following brachial plexus palsy and meralgia paresthetica injuries.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 290 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Oct 2023 |
| Event | Australian Physiotherapy Association: INGNITE Physiotherapy Conference 2023 - Brisbane Convention Centre, Brisbane, Australia Duration: 5 Oct 2023 → 7 Oct 2023 https://ignite2023.physio/ |
Conference
| Conference | Australian Physiotherapy Association |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | INGNITE 2023 |
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Brisbane |
| Period | 5/10/23 → 7/10/23 |
| Other | We have the chance to take physiotherapy to new levels and ignite the future of the profession through innovation and collaboration. Barriers can be broken down and communities connected. Physiotherapists can look to the future and commit to excellence and equality, for themselves and the profession. Challenges can be made and met, passions ignited for what is possible. We can evolve and explore the possibilities and make sure that physiotherapy comes out better than ever before. By igniting your imagination, great things can be achieved! |
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