THE EFFECT OF ICE HOCKEY BAG LOAD CARRYING ON THE MUSCLE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRUNK OF YOUNG MALES DURING GAIT – A PROGRESS REPORT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the trunk muscle activities during unilateral load carriage in carrying a hockey bag. This paper reports on-going research with results from the first seven male subjects (23.56 ±2.19 years) who carried a hockey bag over their dominant carrying shoulder and walked for 8 m. The muscle activities of the trunk as well as temporal-spatial data were recorded. Two hockey bag sizes (small and large) and three load weights were tested. Load weights were 10%, 20%, and 30% of the subject’s individual body weight. Walking without carrying a load served as a control condition. Results showed that the unloaded erector spinae and both the unloaded and loaded rectus abdominis activities increased with added weight. Stride length decreased while the stride width increased as load weight increased.