Alterations in Gait, Strength, and Power After Ruck Marching

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine change in injury risk and performance variables in males and females after walking unloaded and carrying a load with two different distributions (high-pack placement and mid-pack placement) to identify differences in injury risk

Official Title
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Alterations in Gait, Strength, and Power After Ruck Marching

Conditions
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Exercise, Fatigue

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Loaded Walking High
* Other: Loaded Walking Mid
* Other: Walking


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy, physically active individuals 18-39 years old Exclusion Criteria: History of musculoskeletal injury within the last six months or still under a physicians care for an injury occurring more than six month prior History of spinal disc injury History of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, neural, or renal disease No previous history or education of completing resistance exercise Hypertensive or tachycardic during the screening visit (SBP > 139 mmHg, DBP > 89 mmHg, heart rate > 100 bpm) Taking medication or supplements with a known side effect of affecting physiologic responses to exercise (e.g., beta blockers, omega-3 fatty acids, statins, aspirin) Any form of tobacco or nicotine use A positive pregnancy test at any point in the study Study physician discretion based on any other medical condition or medication Gastrointestinal disease or previous surgery prohibiting internal body temperature pill use. Subjects who have any contraindication to internal body temperature pill ingestion will be given the option to insert the pill rectally (as a suppository) or use a rectal probe.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 39 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Unloaded Walking<br>Walking on a treadmill without wearing a pack | Other: Walking<br>* Walking three miles on a treadmill at a self-selected speed<br>|
| Experimental: Loaded Walking High<br>Walking on a treadmill while wearing a 30% body mass load with the weight placed at the high-back | Other: Loaded Walking High<br>* Walking three miles on a treadmill at a self-selected speed while wearing a backpack with weight carried high on the back<br>|
| Experimental: Loaded Walking Mid<br>Walking on a treadmill while wearing a 30% body mass load with the weight placed at the mid-back | Other: Loaded Walking Mid<br>* Walking three miles on a treadmill at a self-selected speed while wearing a backpack with weight carried on the mid-back<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Oxygen Consumption | Oxygen consumption will be measured using indirect calorimetry | Upon completion of 3 miles of walking, an average of 45 minutes | 
| Increased muscular jerk | Jerk will be measured using accelerometers placed at the torso and ankle | Upon completion of 3 miles of walking, an average of 45 minutes |