ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN MANUAL LOAD CARRIAGE

Abstract

From observations on load carriage on subjects engaged solely for the manual carriage of compact loads of a given range of weights, over a range of self selected speeds, Gross Load (Body weight plus weight of external load) and the speed of carriage were found to be the principal influences in determining the energy expenditures of the tasks and the cardiorespiratory changes during their performance. Based on the data collected a chart has been developed which allows the strenuousness of load carriage tasks to be suitably altered by adjustments of Gross loads and speeds of carriage so that they may not become unduly fatiguing for those employed in them.