Altered trunk-pelvis kinematics during load carriage with a compliant versus a rigid system.

Load carriage is a key component of hiking and military activity. The design of the load carriage system (LCS) could influence performance and injury risk. This study aimed to compare a traditional and a compliant LCS during walking and a step-up task to quantify differences in oxygen consumption and trunk-pelvis kinematics.

Muscle function during cross-country skiing at different speed and incline conditions.

The human musculoskeletal system is well adapted to use energy-efficient muscle-tendon mechanics during walking and running, but muscle behaviour during on-snow locomotion is unknown. Here, we examined muscle and muscle-tendon unit behaviour during diagonal-style cross-country roller skiing at three speed and incline conditions to examine whether skiers can exploit energy-saving mechanisms of the muscle-tendon unit. We assessed lower leg muscle and muscle-tendon unit mechanics and muscle activity in 13 high-level skiers during treadmill roller skiing using synchronised ultrasound, motion capture, electromyography and ski-binding force measurements.