A team of researchers from Vanderbilt University has built a lightweight wearable device that transfers body armor weight off the shoulders and backs of soldiers, thereby reducing pain and injury risk.

According to its developers, the wearable weight distribution device could potentially help reduce musculoskeletal injuries as well as accelerate recovery from back injuries in far-forward environments, thus helping soldiers to remain effective.

Source: Vanderbilt University

The new weight distribution device reportedly offers relief from heavy body armor weight during upright standing, walking and sitting. It accomplishes this, the team explained, by redirecting some, or all, of the weight of body armor from the shoulders and back to the hips.

During trials conducted with U.S. military veterans, the team tested offloading up to 90% of armor weight and discovered significant relief and improved comfort during standing and walking tasks.

The prototype of the device, which weighs roughly 2 lbs, offers adjustable back relief without motors or batteries, includes instant disengage and release features for emergencies, and enables soldiers to retain their full agility and freedom of movement.

An article detailing the device, “Wearable weight distribution devices for reducing injury risk: How varying amounts of body armor offloading affect biomechanics and comfort,” appears in the journal Applied Ergonomics.