Segments (in our case, duty belt accessory modules) do not exist in isolation. By understanding their relationship to each other we've maximized the effectiveness, the productivity and the comfort of day-to-day work related activities for law enforcement professioals.

An important development in biomechanics research is the concept of kinetic linking (also known as the kinetic chain). Kinetic linking is the combination of two principals:

Acceleration of distal segments by a proximal segment. In simpler terms, the movement of one segment tends to also move adjacent segments.

Conservation of momentum. Momentum is always conserved in physics. In a given system, inefficiency will result in momentum 'leaking' away to outside the system with a certain proportion being maintained. So when a segment is slowed, its momentum is passed on. This can either be heavily absorbed by the main segment or transferred to another segment of comparable or smaller size.

 

What does this have to do with today's duty belt?

It is not unusual for a typical, fully equipped and loaded duty belt to weigh between 8 and 14 pounds. The average load in North America weighs 12.8 pounds. Until now, duty belt modules have been designed to slide onto and around the duty belt leaving all the modules free to shift or "creep" when changing position from sitting to standing or while running.

Let's apply the acceleration principal from above: for example, cuffs inside their module move, thereby moving the module, which, because it is free to slide on the duty belt, move along that belt. With the belt moving, other modules move. As more modules and weight is shifting along the duty belt, the body has to constantly make incremental muscle adjustments to compensate for all of the movement. Now apply the momentum principal to not just one accessory in one module, but multiple accessories in multiple modules and the movement and adjustments to muscle, joint, and cartilage that the body makes are exponentially increased.

What does this mean?

All this movement may be minute, but the prolonged and cumulative instances of uninterrupted muscular-skeletal trauma, where little time is allotted for recovery (less than 16 hours), results in the body fighting back by signaling pain and discomfort.

This is the primary reasons that 67% of law enforcement professionals admit to muscular, skeletal, nerve or circulatory pain.