Citation

Havenetidis K, Kardaris D, Paxinos T. Mil. Med. 2011; 176(3): 297-303.

Affiliation

Human Performance-Rehabilitation Laboratory, Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Hellenic Army Academy, Vari-Koropiou Avenue, 16673 Vari, Attiki, Greece.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21456356

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Injury prevalence and types of injury were recorded among Greek Army officer cadets during basic combat training (BCT). METHODS: Two hundred thirty-three male recruits from the Hellenic Army Academy were monitored for musculoskeletal injuries during a 7-week BCT period. RESULTS: Sixty-six (28.3%) recruits suffered from some form of injury, leading to 1.22 training days lost per study recruit. More than half of the injuries (51.3%) occurred in the first 2 weeks of the BCT, with ankle/foot strains and sprains being the most common injuries. CONCLUSION: Despite the absence of fractures and the low number of upper extremity injuries during the BCT, injury prevalence was high, with ankle- and foot-related injuries to be responsible for a long period of lost training days. Preventive efforts should focus on addressing the high rate of first-time and recurrent ankle ligament sprains and possible protective equipment to limit their frequency and severity.

Language: en