This prospective study examined running history as a risk factor for subsequent overuse injury in Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) recruits. Recruits preparing to be Navy SEALs undergo 6 months of rigorous physical training programs, which place these recruits at high risk for developing an overuse injury. We assessed the independent variables of age; prior running frequency, duration, and pace; and training surface. Univariate and multivariate estimates of risk were determined for each variable. We observed an incidence of 3.4 overuse injuries per 1000 recruit-days. Assessing the physical activity of the recruits in the 6 months before entrance into basic training, we found that the recruits who ran at a pace slower than 8 minutes per mile and on softer training surfaces were more likely to sustain an overuse injury during basic training, in both univariate and multivariate estimates of risk. Recruits who ran fewer weekly miles and for shorter durations before basic training were also more likely to sustain an overuse injury according to univariate estimates of risk. Our findings suggest that risk of overuse injuries can be reduced by adjusting exercise routines before training. Running on different type surfaces with a gradual increase in speed, duration, and weekly mileage in the period preceding basic training may reduce risk of overuse injury.
We determined the incidence of soft-tissue/musculoskeletal injury occurring during 8,076 recruit-months at risk among recruits undergoing basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, between January and April 1990. We analyzed International Classification of Disease codes relating to initial visit for injuries, and calculated recruit-months from weekly strength figures. Training-related injuries occurred at a rate of 19.9 injuries per 100 recruit-months. Within the sports medicine clinic, iliotibial band syndrome (22.4%), patellar tendinitis (15.1%), and mechanical low back pain (11.4%) occurred most frequently, with rates per 100 recruit-months of 2.1, 1.4, and 1.1, respectively.
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