Effect of Two Equipment Load Bearing Strategies on Low Back Discomfort in On-duty Police Officers

Abstract

Jeffrey Janot, Chantal Bougie, Anna Kohler, Sierra Freid, Jessica Nagel, Maddy Downing, Lindsey Opelt, Marquell Johnson, Nick Beltz, Andrew Floren, Saori Braun ABSTRACT: Effect of two equipment load bearing strategies on low back discomfort in on-duty police officers KEY WORDS: back pain, load bearing vest, occupational health PURPOSE: Low back pain is a common condition affecting active-duty police officers. Carrying equipment at the waist using a standard duty belt has been linked to discomfort while on duty. The purpose of this study was to determine if a load bearing vest worn on the trunk is more effective at decreasing low back discomfort compared to the standard duty belt. METHODS: 15 police officers (13 m, 2 f), aged 25-45 y/o, were recruited for this study. Screening criteria were active duty for 1 year and a rating of “minimal disability” on the Oswestry LBP Disability scale. Officers were randomized into either a duty belt or load bearing vest group pre-study. A crossover design was used for the 6-mo study requiring each officer to wear the duty belt or vest each for a 3-mo period. Each work shift the officers rated their level of low back discomfort using a visual‐analog scale (VAS) numbered 0-10 (0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable). Other physical measures included in the analysis were body composition, spine mobility, and core and aerobic endurance. RESULTS: There were significant (p < .05) differences between vest and belt conditions for each month (1: 2.97±0.73 belt vs 0.95±1.24 vest; 2: 4.08±1.03 belt vs 0.55±1.12 vest; 3: 4.17±1.21 belt vs 0.24±0.41 vest; 4: 4.97±2.43 belt vs 2.03±1.63 vest; 5: 3.33±1.18 belt vs 1.29±1.05 vest; 6: 4.90±2.57 belt vs 1.03±1.10 vest). Pearson’s r values indicated weak (r = -.26 to .39) and nonsignificant (p > .05) correlations between belt VAS scores and physical measures and some moderate (r = -.51 to .46) but nonsignificant (p > .05) correlations between vest VAS scores and physical measures. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated that a load bearing vest produced lower VAS scores compared to the duty belt. There were no significant relationships between physical measures and VAS scores indicating that the load bearing devices were most responsible for eliciting the VAS results reported. Thus, to decrease discomfort, we recommended that officers use a load bearing vest system while on duty.