The Effects of Military Body Armor on Isometric and Isokinetic Knee Behaviors

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSDespite the proven effectiveness of new-generation body armor against ballistic threats, small arms, and improvised explosive devices, such body armor has become a source of concern for warfighters' performance and musculoskeletal injuries. Prolonged periods of performing physical activities, with versus without body armor, were found to alter knee neuromuscular behavior. With body armor, the maximum strength of the knee flexors and the extensor-to-flexor strength ratio were found, respectively, to reduce and increase than in conditions without body armor. Such changes in knee neuromuscular behavior are known to adversely affect physical performance and risk of knee injury. Quantitative information related to changes in knee neuromuscular behavior induced by body armor can be used in the design of injury risk assessment tools, physical training programs that decrease or correct a particular imbalance, and to establish return to service (i.e., post injury) standards for dismounted ...