Effect of Load Carriage on Upper Limb Performance.

Carrying heavy backpacks are often associated with shoulder discomfort or pain, loss of sensorimotor functions, and brachial plexus injuries that might hamper performance. Based on previous research, the cause of these symptoms could be tissue deformations of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery caused by the shoulder straps. Purpose: To evaluate the changes in the upper extremity hemodynamic and neural function, and to assess how they are associated with brachial plexus tissue deformation during heavy load carriage. Methods: Ten young healthy adults carried for 45 min a backpack load (40% of their body weight) while standing freely, followed by 15 min of recovery (unloaded). Index-finger microvascular flow and sensorimotor function were measured before and after carrying the load, and following recovery. The following sensorimotor functions were measured: light touch thresholds by the index finger and little finger, forearm thermal sensation thresholds, and gross motor function. In addition, marksmanship accuracy, as an indication for fine motor function, was tested. Results: Load carriage resulted in an average decrease of ~40% in microvascular flow, and a significant decrement in light touch sensation (p

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