The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PPE's weight and the harness design of SCBA on mobility of those users and to determine the validity of physical performance test, three functional balance tests, and postural balance test as a standard mobility test method when wearing the PPE. A total of 10 Japanese healthy males (not trained) performed balance tests in this study. Participants were required to wear followed five clothing conditions with different weight and designs, randomly. In CON, participants wore T-shirt and short pants. In ST, they wore PPC without SCBA. In TA and TB, they wore PPC and SCBA with old harness design (TA and TB: 13.1kg and 6.9kg of SCBA, respectively). In TC, they wore PPC and SCBA (6.9kg) with improved harness design. For the physical performance test, participants carried out the following tasks inside the experiment building, (1) Step up; (2) Side jump; (3) Crawl; (4) Object-dragging; (5) Obstacle stride. For the functional balance test, Performance time was measured for ‘Wooden plank time’ and ‘Timed up and go' test. For the Functional reach' test, participants extended their right arm forward as far as possible, and the extended distance were measured. We measured COP for postural balance test and from these sway data, measurements of medial-lateral (ML) and anteriorposterior (AP) excursion, sway length, and the area of each test were available. As results, a heavy SCBA limits wearers' mobility, however, we could not determine any difference between harness systems (standard versus improved). It was possible to find significances among clothing conditions using several kinds of motions of physical performance test and functional balance test. Therefore, the test method of present study, especially physical performance and functional balance test is valid and convenient method for evaluating mobility of PPE users, and it shows more statistically different results than postural balance test.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.36/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE