Infant-carrying methods and their biomechanical influence on maternal gait patterns and joint mechanics

BackgroundInfant carrying is a common practice among caregivers. Carrying loads such as infant mannequins or bags may alter lower extremity joint angles and induce muscle fatigue in the upper extremities of carriers, including men, women, postpartum women, and women who have not given birth. However, the biomechanical effects of various carrying methods on mothers remain poorly understood.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional descriptive study compared the effects of unloaded walking with three infant-carrying conditions on gait mechanics.MethodsThirty healthy mothers' gait parameters were recorded using a motion capture system under four conditions: unloaded walking (UW), front-facing carrying (FC), back-facing carrying (BC), and in arms carrying (IA).ResultsAcross all infant-carrying conditions, notable changes were observed in gait parameters. The front-facing carrying condition elicited the greatest changes in gait mechanics, particularly in pelvis. The in arms carrying condition exhibited minimal changes in gait compared to the back and front-facing carrying conditions. Significant alterations in gait were observed in all infant-carrying conditions compared to unloaded walking (p < 0.05). The results indicated that ankle (M = 41.15 ± 0.25; M = 24.18 ± 0.29; p = 0.0024), and pelvis (M = 6.15 ± 0.35; M = 9.25 ± 0.45; p = 0.0036) movement patterns led to the greatest deviation in gait among four conditions.ConclusionFront-facing carrying imposes the greatest biomechanical and physiological strain while back carrier offers more ergonomically efficient alternative. The in arms carrying method introduces dynamic movement that may affect stability. These findings highlight important considerations for ergonomically optimized infant carriers to support maternal musculoskeletal health and minimize strain.