Musculoskeletal overuse injury prevalence and comfort perception of military boots

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Load carriage and physical training causes lower leg biomechanical overuse musculoskeletal injuries (OMSKI). Biomechanical OMSKI is cumulative micro-trauma caused by altered load distribution. The purpose of this study: assess the OMSKI prevalence and comfort perception of military boots in Latvian infantry soldiers. Materials and methods: cross-sectional study among infantry soldiers during annual medical check-up. Injuries were classified according to body regions and injury types (acute or overuse). Military boot comfort was assessed for 6 dimensions: overall comfort, forefoot, arch and heel cushioning, arch and heel support using 10-point Likert scale. Results: 160 soldiers at average age 30.4±7.3 years participated in this research, with mean service time 7.8±4.1 years. 95% of all participants were males (n=152), 5% females. Prevalence of lower extremity OMSKI was 14.4%. Most common sites for OMSKI are lower leg and ankle (39%) and knee (23%). Military boots rate for forefoot cushioning, heel cushioning and for arch support was 6.1 (SD=2.0), arch cushioning rate 6.0 (SD=2.0), heel support rate 6.3 (SD=2.0) and overall comfort rate was 6.4 (SD=1.9). Presence of lower leg overuse injuries are associated with overall military boots comfort [χ2(9) =120.3; p<0.001]. Conclusions: Lower leg overuse injuries are common for infantry soldiers and it is suggested to provide proper fitted military boots according to foot types and lower leg alignments to prevent OMSKI
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDaugavpils Universitātes 60. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences rakstu krājums=Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University
EditorsIrēna Kokina
Place of PublicationDaugavpils
PublisherDaugavpils Universitāte
ChapterHEALTH SCIENCES
Pages123-128
Number of pages6
VolumeA. daļa : Dabas zinātnes=Part A: Natural Sciences
ISBN (Print)978-9984-14-863-2
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords*

  • overuse
  • musculoskeletal injuries
  • Injury prevention
  • military boots

Field of Science*

  • 3.3 Health sciences

Publication Type*

  • 3.2. Articles or chapters in other proceedings other than those included in 3.1., with an ISBN or ISSN code

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