Forskare har nu funnit ytterligare bevis för att ett s.k. huvudstött bärande är mer ekonomiskt än bärsystem uppbyggda kring rygg och bål. I en studie på kvinnliga nepalesiska bärare fann man att de bar 10% mer av sin kroppsvikt 25% mer effektivt än vad tidigare visats att afrikanska kvinnor klarat av, vilka i sin tur bar upp till 60 % mer av sin kroppsvikt mer effektivt än ryggsäcksbärande soldater.
Abstract från "Energetics of Load Carrying in Nepalese Porters", Science vol. 308:
"Nepalese porters routinely carry head-supported loads equal to 100 to 200% of their body weight (Mb) for many days up and down steep mountain footpaths at high altitudes. Previous studies have shown that African women carry head-supported loads of up to 60% of their Mb far more economically than army recruits carrying equivalent loads in backpacks. Here we show that Nepalese porters carry heavier loads even more economically than African women. Female Nepalese porters, for example, carry on average loads that are 10% of their Mb heavier than the maximum loads carried by the African women, yet do so at a 25% smaller metabolic cost"
Abstract från "Energetics of Load Carrying in Nepalese Porters", Science vol. 308:
"Nepalese porters routinely carry head-supported loads equal to 100 to 200% of their body weight (Mb) for many days up and down steep mountain footpaths at high altitudes. Previous studies have shown that African women carry head-supported loads of up to 60% of their Mb far more economically than army recruits carrying equivalent loads in backpacks. Here we show that Nepalese porters carry heavier loads even more economically than African women. Female Nepalese porters, for example, carry on average loads that are 10% of their Mb heavier than the maximum loads carried by the African women, yet do so at a 25% smaller metabolic cost"