Risk factors for lower limb injuries during initial naval training: a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Military Health

Background:

• Identifying risk factors for lower limb injuries is crucial in military personnel.
• Initial defence training presents a high risk for common lower limb injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for common lower limb injuries in naval recruits undergoing initial training.
• To assess the predictive ability of baseline participant characteristics for injury development.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial allocated 306 naval recruits to flat insoles or foot orthoses.
• Baseline anthropometrics, health, activity, fitness, and foot characteristics were collected.
• Injuries (medial tibial stress syndrome, patellofemoral pain, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis) were prospectively documented over 11 weeks.

Main Results:

• 67 (21.9%) participants sustained a lower limb injury.
• Injured participants were slightly younger and less likely to receive foot orthoses.
• Baseline variables moderately predicted injury with 78.1% accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Baseline health, fitness, and clinical assessments did not accurately predict lower limb injuries in naval recruits.
• Foot orthoses may offer a protective benefit against common lower limb injuries, though not statistically significant.