## 3 Results
### Incline Effect  
The subsequent univariate ANOVA demonstrated a significant incline effect in all parameters: normalized step length (\(F\) = 7.53, \(p\) = 0.009, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\)= 0.16), stance phase (\(F\) = 111.60, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.74), swing phase (\(F\) = 111.35, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.74), single support (\(F\) = 168.61, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.81), double support (\(F\) = 152.72, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.79), gait cycle (\(F\) = 19.42, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.32) and cadence (\(F\) = 21.04, \(p\) < 0.001, \({\eta_{p}}^{2}\) = 0.34). During uphill walking, participants increased their step length (\(p\) = 0.009), stance phase (\(p\) < 0.001), double support (\(p\) < 0.001) and gait cycle time (\(p\) < 0.001) compared to level walking. Simultaneously, a decrease was observed in the swing phase (\(p\) < 0.001), single support (\(p\) < 0.001) and cadence (\(p\) < 0.001) while uphill walking compared to level walking with the same treadmill pace. Tables 3 and 4 show detailed results, including means and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of gait parameters during level and incline walking. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline
**Main Effect** & **Test** & **\(\lambda\) Value** & **F** & **Effect df** & \(p\) \\ \hline Incline & Wilks & 0.15 & 27.43 & 7 & \textless{}0.001 * \\ \hline Load position & Wilks & 0.16 & 10.27 & 14 & \textless{}0.001 * \\ \hline Side & Wilks & 0.77 & 1.46 & 7 & 0.21 \\ \hline Interaction & & & & & \\ \hline Incline \(\times\) oad & Wilks & 0.33 & 3.93 & 14 & 0.001 * \\ \hline Incline \(\times\) Side & [PERSON] & 0.82 & 1.09 & 7 & 0.39 \\ \hline Load \(\times\) Side & [PERSON] & 0.58 & 1.43 & 14 & 0.21 \\ \hline Incline \(\times\) Load \(\times\) Side & [PERSON] & 0.56 & 1.54 & 14 & 0.16 \\ \hline \end{tabular}  
*Statistically significant difference (\(p\) < 0.05).  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results for gait parameters. Multivariate tests of significance. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline  & **Backpack in Hand** & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Backpack** \\ **on Shoulder** \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Without Backpack** \\ **(Control Trial)** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \cline{2-4}
**Parameter** & \begin{tabular}{c} **Mean** \\ **(95\% CI)** \\ \end{tabular} & \
\begin{tabular}{c} **Mean** \\ **(95\% CI)** \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Mean** \\ **(95\% CI)** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline
**Norm. Step Length [\%]** & & & & \\ \hline Unloaded Side & 30.68 & 31.17 & 31.20 \\  & (29.13, 32.23) & (29.58, 32.76) & (29.66, 32.73) \\ \hline Loaded Side & 30.80 & 31.46 & 31.29 \\  & (29.24, 32.37) & (29.86, 33.07) & (29.62, 32.97) \\ \hline
**Stance Phase [\%]** & & & & \\ \hline Unloaded Side & 67.81 & 68.57 & 67.40 \\  & (67.04, 68.58) & (67.79, 69.35) & (66.55, 68.25) \\ \hline Loaded Side & 67.92 & 68.41 & 67.46 \\  & (67.13, 68.71) & 67.58, 69.23 & (66.64, 68.28) \\ \hline
**Swing Phase [\%]** & & & & \\ \hline Unloaded Side & 32.18 & 31.43 & 32.60 \\  & (31.39, 32.96) & (30.65, 32.22) & (31.75, 33.45) \\ \hline Loaded Side & 32.08 & 31.59 & 32.54 \\  & (31.29, 32.87) & (30.77, 32.42) & (31.72, 33.36) \\ \hline \end{tabular}  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Mean (M) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for gait parameters while walking on a level surface.