The impact of collective load transport on the individual walking

Abstract

Collective handling is a collaborative strategy that involves two or more people in carrying out load transport. Different positions can be adopted, depending on the handle locations of the transported load, external constraints and the capacities of the carriers. The most adopted collective transport in our daily life is stretcher type transport. However, very little research has focused on the kinematic modifications caused by this type of transport. This research aims to evaluate and quantify the modifications of the locomotor pattern of stretcher transport. Our results highlighted a modification of walking parameters (step length, duration of the walking cycle, speed of execution, etc.), an increase in energy cost but above all a modification of the walking pattern with a reduction in joint range of motion. These results could be used to establish new recommendations for musculoskeletal disorders.