Load carriage for fun: a survey of New Zealand trampers, their activities and injuries

Much of the published research investigating the physiological, biomechanical and psychological impact of load carriage by backpack has studied young, fit males carrying loads for an hour or less. The resultant body of knowledge may not be appropriate to the increasing numbers of middle-aged and older men and women who are taking up or returning to tramping as a recreational activity. In this study, members of 11 tramping clubs throughout New Zealand were surveyed to discover their personal characteristics, characteristics of tramping trips undertaken and injuries sustained. Significant numbers of men and women over 30, 40 and 50 years of age and with generally sedentary lifestyles reported occasional tramping during which they carried backpacks weighing up to 29% of their body weight for more than five hours over 11–15 km/day. Injuries were reported by 74%, with sprains being the most common injury type and knees, ankles and feet the most frequent location of injury. These findings may have implications for route planning and the design of interventions to reduce injuries, health care, training, tracks, equipment and footwear, and demonstrate the need for further research to investigate the risks and requirements of recreational trampers.