A torso load distribution assembly (10, 200, 300, 400, 500) comprising: one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) including a body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) having a front surface (18, 218, 318, 418, 518, 718), a rear surface (20, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720) and a side surface (22, 222, 322, 422, 522, 722) that joins the front surface (18, 218, 318, 418, 518, 718) to the rear surface (20, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720), wherein the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) includes a plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) that are spaced apart from a substantially central body portion (16e, 216e, 316e, 416e, 516e, 716e); a plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514) including a body (26, 226, 326, 426, 526) having central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a), a first body portion (26b, 226b, 326b, 426b, 526b) connected to the central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a) and a second body portion (26c, 226c, 326c, 426c, 526c) connected to the central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a), wherein each of the first body portion (26b, 226b, 326b, 426b, 526b) and the second body portion (26c, 226c, 326c, 426c, 526c) are attached to the plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712), wherein the body (26, 226, 326, 426, 526) of the plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514) is configured to be slightly smaller dimensionally (D 14V, D 14H; D 214V, D 214H; D 314V, D 314H; D 414V, D 414H; D 514V, D 514H) than dimensions (D 12V, D 12H; D 212V, D 212H; D 312V, D 312H; D 412V, D 412H; D 512V, D 512H; D 712V, D 712H) formed by the side surface (22, 222, 322, 422, 522, 722) of the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712); characterised in that the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) is formed by a flexible material that permits the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) to be manipulated from an at-rest, substantially flat orientation to a flexed or bowed orientation when the plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) are attached to the plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514). one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) including a body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) having a front surface (18, 218, 318, 418, 518, 718), a rear surface (20, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720) and a side surface (22, 222, 322, 422, 522, 722) that joins the front surface (18, 218, 318, 418, 518, 718) to the rear surface (20, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720), wherein the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) includes a plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) that are spaced apart from a substantially central body portion (16e, 216e, 316e, 416e, 516e, 716e); a plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514) including a body (26, 226, 326, 426, 526) having central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a), a first body portion (26b, 226b, 326b, 426b, 526b) connected to the central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a) and a second body portion (26c, 226c, 326c, 426c, 526c) connected to the central body portion (26a, 226a, 326a, 426a, 526a), wherein each of the first body portion (26b, 226b, 326b, 426b, 526b) and the second body portion (26c, 226c, 326c, 426c, 526c) are attached to the plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712), wherein the body (26, 226, 326, 426, 526) of the plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514) is configured to be slightly smaller dimensionally (D 14V, D 14H; D 214V, D 214H; D 314V, D 314H; D 414V, D 414H; D 514V, D 514H) than dimensions (D 12V, D 12H; D 212V, D 212H; D 312V, D 312H; D 412V, D 412H; D 512V, D 512H; D 712V, D 712H) formed by the side surface (22, 222, 322, 422, 522, 722) of the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712); characterised in that the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) is formed by a flexible material that permits the body (16, 216, 316, 416, 516, 716) to be manipulated from an at-rest, substantially flat orientation to a flexed or bowed orientation when the plurality of body portions (16a-16d, 216a-216c, 316a-316d, 416a-416d, 516a-516d, 716a-716d) of the one or more plate portions (12, 212, 312, 412, 512, 712) are attached to the plate engaging member (14, 214, 314, 414, 514).