Ergonomics for military combatants an integrative review

Abstract

Ergonomics aims to prevent injuries and prevent health costs in military personnel. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the types of ergonomic assessments and interventions used for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in military combatants. An integrative review of observational and experimental studies was carried out. Therefore, a systematic literature search was performed in May 2020 and updated in August 2020 in the MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane, CINAHL, Sportdiscus, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases with the DeCS and MeSH military personnel, ergonomics, and load carriage. A total of 955 studies were found in the databases, however 14 studies were included (9 evaluation studies and 5 intervention studies). The following ergonomic assessments were recommended for military combatants: stress level, sedentary lifestyle, activity characteristics, presence of vibrations, posture during operational activities, evaluation of footwear, clothing and the load carried, the ration and the level of satisfaction with the job. As interventions: the realization of ergonomic guidelines and physical exercises, in addition to uniforms and protective equipment that provide a higher level of comfort during operational activities.