The majority of reported injuries among military populations are injuries due to cumulative repetitive microtrauma — overuse injuries. Plantar pressure measurement is a simple tool to analyse lower limb biomechanics through the assessment of forces applied to the foot. This study aimed to determine the relation between peak plantar pressure and lower extremity overuse. Sixty-six active-duty infantry male soldiers, with mean age 29.7 years (range 22–40 years), and mean service time 5.2 years (range 1–15 years) participated. The highest peak plantar pressure (PPP) at the forefoot occurred at the hallux (cases: 50.82 n/cm2, SD = 38.84; control: 34.39 n/cm2, SD= 28.03) and 3rd metatarsal head (cases: 54.40 n/cm2, SD = 33.83; control: 49.16 n/cm2, SD=28.87). The study demonstrated elevated PPP among cases. Statistically significant results were found at the hallux (χ2(1) = 6.8; p = 0.01), medial heel (χ2(1) = 5.18; p = 0.02) and lateral heel (χ2(1) = 12.12; p < 0.01) regions. The results show that plantar pressure assessment could be used as a useful screening tool for early lower extremity overuse injury detection.
Background High rates of musculoskeletal injuries such as plantar fasciitis and stress fractures have been observed among physically active military personnel. During service time, infantry soldiers use issued boots daily that should fit well and provide comfort to prevent injuries and decrease lower extremity pain effectively. The association of military boot comfort with overuse injuries remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between the chosen military boot size, perceived boot comfort and lower leg overuse injury. Methods During the cross-sectional study, 227 (males, n = 213; females, n = 14) active-duty infantry soldiers at a mean age of 29.5 years old, and with an average service time of 7.2 years were assessed for a history of overuse injury, footprint length, appropriate shoe size, and footwear comfort. Males with a history of overuse injury (n = 32) and non-injured age-matched controls (n = 34) were selected for detailed testing and establishing the possible relationship between footwear comfort and lower leg overuse injury. Results No relationship was found between footwear comfort and a history of lower leg overuse injury. N = 38 (57.6%) of study subjects were wearing an inappropriate shoe size daily. Inappropriate shoe size usage affected footwear comfort ratings significantly. Conclusions Study results showed that improper boot size was significantly related to comfort ratings but was not associated with a history of lower leg overuse injury.
IntroductionHigh rates of musculoskeletal injuries such as plantar fasciitis and stress fractures have been observed among physically active military personnel. During service time, infantry soldiers use issued boots daily that should be a proper fit and provide comfort to effectively prevent injuries and decrease lower extremity pain. This study compares the subjective infantry boot size with optimal size and investigates perceived boot comfort for different boot parts among soldiers with and without a history of lower leg, ankle, and foot overuse injury. Materials/MethodsDuring the cross-sectional study, 227 (males, n=213; females, n=14) active-duty infantry soldiers at a mean age of 29.5 years old, and with an average service time of 7.2 years were assessed for a history of overuse injury, footprint length, appropriate shoe size, and footwear comfort. Males with a history of overuse injury (n=32) and non-injured age-matched controls (n=34) were selected for detailed testing and establishing the possible relationship between footwear comfort and lower leg overuse injury.Results No relationship was found between footwear comfort and history of lower leg overuse injury. N=38 (57.6%) of study subjects were wearing an inappropriate shoe size daily. Inappropriate shoe size usage affected footwear comfort ratings significantly.ConclusionsStudy results showed that improper boot size was significantly related to comfort ratings but was not associated with a history of lower leg overuse injury.
Injuries of the lower extremity overuse are common among different adult populations with high physical demands such as athletes and soldiers. Contradiction exists among used different definitions of overuse injury. Objective: to identify most common overuse injury definition and propose overuse injury criteria based on recent literature review. Methods: literature review of the most recent literature about lower extremity overuse injuries published between 2013 and June 2018. Studies retrieved through MEDLINE, PubMEd and ScienceDirect, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and language restrictions. Results: 18 articles met all inclusion criteria out of 2995 articles screened. Included research populations are different sport athletes (n = 11) and soldiers (n = 5). Most studies described such overuse injuries as lower extremity stress fractures (n = 10) and Achilles tendinopathy (n = 7). Most reported overuse injury definition – injury due to large amount of physical activity training (n = 8) or repetitive micro-trauma (n = 4), Conclusions: lower extremity overuse injury is an injury due to high physical load because of incomplete repair process and with gradual onset. Important criteria for defining overuse injury include absence of known single traumatic event, progressive symptoms and lack of recovery period.
Musculoskeletal injury is the leading cause of disability among different military populations that results in socioeconomic burden and negatively affects military readiness. Study aim was to describe self-reported musculoskeletal injuries among Latvian infantry soldiers during one-year period. Survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Data was assessed using survey about injuries that occurred in one-year period during annual medical check-up. Musculoskeletal injuries were classified according to body regions as it is in Barell injury matrix and by injury type – acute or overuse. Study results showed in one-year injury incidence rate was 867.8 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 824.8 – 913.0) with total 197 musculoskeletal injuries reported among active duty infantry soldiers. Typical acute injuries were superficial contusion injuries (n=24), fractures (n=21), joint dislocations (n=21) and sprains (n=29). Typical overuse diagnoses were lower back pain (n=42), patellofemoral pain syndrome (n=11), medial tibial stress syndrome (n=9), plantar fasciitis (n=8). Present study showed high incidence of overuse back injuries and overuse and acute lower leg injuries. Mostly of reported injuries could be classified as preventable and should be reduced through injury reduction programmes.
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