Table 1 Keywords, subject headings and arrangement of terms searched by database

Medline Complete

(armour OR armor OR “ballistic vest” OR “tactical vest” OR “bulletproof vest” OR “ballistic vests” OR “tactical vests” OR “bulletproof vests” OR “protective clothing”)

AND

(“Police”[Mesh] OR “Military Personnel”[Mesh] OR “Military Science”[Mesh] OR “Military Medicine”[Mesh] OR military OR soldier OR officer OR police OR law enforcement OR Army OR Navy OR naval OR “Armed Forces” OR security OR Guard* OR tactic* OR combat OR “special forces” OR “special operations” or defense OR defence)

AND

(“Exercise”[Mesh] OR “Physical Exertion”[Mesh] OR “Physical Fitness”[Mesh] OR “Work Performance”[Mesh] OR “Task Performance and Analysis”[Mesh] OR “Biomechanical Phenomena”[Mesh] OR exercise OR exertion OR performance OR biomechanic* OR endurance OR fitness OR strength OR conditioning OR “movement analysis” OR kinematic* OR mechanic* OR task* OR training)

CINAHL

(armour OR armor OR “ballistic vest” OR “tactical vest” OR “bulletproof vest” “ballistic vests” OR “tactical vests” OR “bulletproof vests” OR “protective clothing”)

AND

((MH “Police”) OR (MH “Military Personnel”) OR (MH “Military Recruits”) OR (MH “Research, Military”) OR (MH “Military Training”) OR (MH “Military Services”) OR (MH “Military Medicine”) OR military OR soldier OR officer OR police OR law enforcement OR Army OR Navy OR “Armed Forces” OR security OR Guard* OR tactic* OR combat OR “special forces” OR “special operations” or defense OR defence))

AND

((MH “Exercise”) OR (MH “Resistance Training”) OR (MH “Physical Fitness”) OR performance OR tactic* OR biomechanic* OR exertion OR endurance OR fitness OR strength OR conditioning OR “movement analysis” OR kinematic* OR mechanic* OR task* OR training)

SPORTDiscus

(armour OR armor OR “ballistic vest” OR “tactical vest” OR “bulletproof vest” OR “ballistic vests” OR “tactical vests” OR “bulletproof vests” OR “protective clothing”)

AND

(military OR soldier OR officer OR police OR law enforcement OR Army OR Navy OR naval OR “Armed Forces” OR security OR Guard* OR tactic* OR combat OR ”special forces” OR “special operations” or defense OR defence)

AND

(exercise OR exertion OR performance OR biomechanic* OR endurance OR fitness OR strength OR conditioning OR “movement analysis” OR kinematic* OR mechanic* OR task* OR training)

EMBASE

(‘body armor’/exp OR armour OR armor OR “ballistic vest” OR “tactical vest” OR “bullet proof vest” OR “ballistic vest” OR “tactical vest” OR “bulletproof vest” OR “protective clothing”)

AND

(‘military phenomena’/exp OR ‘police’/exp OR military OR soldier OR officer OR police OR law enforcement OR Army OR Navy OR naval OR “Armed Forces” OR security OR Guard* OR tactic* OR combat OR “special forces” OR “special operations” or defense OR defence)

AND

(‘exercise’/exp OR ‘physical performance’/exp OR ‘athletic performance’/exp OR ‘biomechanics’/exp OR ‘kinematics’/exp OR ‘training’/exp OR exercise OR exertion OR performance OR biomechanic* OR endurance OR fitness OR strength OR conditioning OR “movement analysis” OR kinematic* OR mechanic* OR task* OR training)