Original Research

Headloading in Africa: Preliminary findings on the locomotor effects of occupational headload carriage

J. A. Charteris, P. A. Scott, J. C. Wall
South African Journal of Physiotherapy | Vol 42, No 1 | a823 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v42i1.823 | © 2018 J. A. Charteris, P. A. Scott, J. C. Wall | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 October 2018 | Published: 28 February 1986

About the author(s)

J. A. Charteris, Department of Human Movement Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa
P. A. Scott, Department of Human Movement Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa
J. C. Wall, School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

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Abstract

Headload walking is widespread in Africa, potentially medically harmful, but poorly understood. The present pilot study reveals what portions of the locomotor pattern deserve detailed further study. Basically under the headload condition, shorter, quicker more mincing steps are taken, raising the energy cost of locomotion. Shock-absorption mechanisms are impaired. Propulsive mechanisms are altered.


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