Screening initial entry training trainees for postural faults and low back or hip pain
1168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, US Forces Korea.
Background:
The frequency of postural faults and postural awareness in military trainees has not been assessed.
Methods:
Five hundred Soldiers entering Advanced Individual Training were screened for standing posture and completed an anonymous questionnaire during inprocessing.
Results:
Postural faults were identified in 202 subjects. Chi square analysis demonstrated a relationship between posture observed and posture reported: 87% of subjects with postural faults were unaware of postural faults; 12% with proper posture reported having poor posture. Subjects reported comparable frequencies of back pain and hip pain with postural faults (33.2%, 21.2%) and without faults (28.5%, 14.7%). Anonymous reporting was higher than formal reporting and requests for care during the same period (37% vs 3.4%).
