External
Statements of Principles

Lifting loads while bearing weight

Bearing weight in this context means supporting a weight through a joint.  This contention only applies to osteoarthritis of a lower limb joint. Lifting while standing, weight loads the ankles, knees and hips, but bench pressing weights does not.

The RMA defines a joint of the lower limb to mean "the hip, knee, ankle, sacro-iliac joint or any joint of the foot".

In operational service cases the SoP requirements are lifting loads of at least 25 kg while bearing weight through the affected joint to a cumulative total of at least 120,000 kg within any 10 year period.

In eligible service cases the SoP requirements are lifting loads of at least 35 kg while bearing weight on the affected joint to a cumulative total of at least 168,000 kg within any 10 year period.