Physiological, Biomechanical, and Maximal Performance Comparisons of Female Soldiers Carrying Loads Using Prototype U.S. Marine Corps Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) with Interceptor Body Armor and U.S. Army All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) with PASGT body Armor

摘要

The experiment evaluated the physiological, biomechanical, and maximal performance responses of 12 female soldiers carrying loads with prototype Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment with Interceptor body armor (MOLLE/I), and All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment with PASGT body armor (ALICE/P). MOLLE/I and ALICE/P did not differ on several tests including: energy cost of load carriage, 2 mile load carriage speed, sprint speed with load, knee range of motion, and heel-strike braking force The ALICE/P bested MOLLE/I for speed of getting prone and standing; speed of getting prone, rolling 3 times, and aiming a rifle; obstacle course speed, especially for the low crawl; grenade throw distance; subjective comments; total-body complaints under the fighting load; heel-strike and push-off forces; front-back pack movement; and pressure under the shoulder straps. MOLLE/I bested ALICE/P as to design modularity; walking posture; quick pack release; tightness of shot groups; shoulder complaints; complaints about all body areas other than the shoulders and hips under the sustainment load; total-body complaints under the approach and sustainment loads; time in double-support under the approach and sustainment loads; front-back trunk sway under the sustainment load; and horizontal location of pack center of mass under the sustainment load. Despite its overall superiority, the prototype MOLLE/I could be improved to enhance obstacle course performance, make its quick-release system easier to find and reach, enhance body armor comfort and fit for females, reduce its restrictiveness, and reduce interference with tightening the waist belt. Frame cracking of MOLLE prototypes has apparently been solved by improved manufacturing techniques.