Trends in movement quality in US Military Academy cadets 2005-17: A JUMP-ACL study

Efficacy of a Novel Telehealth Application in Health Behavior Modification and Symptomology in Military Service Members at Risk for Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis

INTRODUCTION

Mobile applications (apps) may be beneficial to promote self-management strategies to mitigate the risk of developing post-traumatic osteoarthritis in military members following a traumatic knee injury. This study investigated the efficacy of a mobile app in facilitating behavior modification to improve function and symptomology among military members.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a preliminary pre and post hoc analysis of a randomized control trial. The MARX scale, Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) questionnaire, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritic Outcome Score Readiness to Manage Osteoarthritis Questionnaire were completed at baseline, 6-week, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Participants in the treatment arm completed the System Usability Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon sum of ranks test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Cohen's d effect size.

RESULTS

A total of 28 participants were included. Between-group differences for baseline and 6-week follow-up were significantly improved in the injured knee ICOAP constant pain score for the treatment group (treatment: -4.2 ± 12, 95% CI: -11.5, 3.1; control: 5.5 ± 9.9, 95% CI: 0.9, 10.1; P = .035, effect size = 0.905). Within-group differences for baseline and 6-week follow-up demonstrated a significant decline in the injured knee ICOAP constant pain score among the control group (signed-rank: 16.0, P = .031, Cohen's d = 0.339). No other significant differences were observed. A good System Usability Scale score for usability was found (76.6 ± 8.8).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the mobile app is easy to use and may contribute to improved constant pain symptomology for patients at risk for post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Association of Dynamic Knee Valgus and Bone Stress Injury in US Military Academy Cadets

CONTEXT

Early identification of incoming military personnel at elevated odds for bone stress injury (BSI) is important for the health and readiness of the US military.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Knee kinematic data of the incoming US Military Academy cadets were collected while performing a jump-landing task (The Landing Error Scoring System) using a markerless motion capture system and depth camera. Data on incidence of lower-extremity injury, including BSI, were collected throughout the study period.

RESULTS

A total of 1905 participants (452 females, 23.7%) were examined for knee valgus and BSI status. A total of 50 BSI occurred during the study period (incidence proportion = 2.6%). The unadjusted odds ratio for BSI at initial contact was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-1.14; P = .49). Adjusted for sex, the odds ratio for BSI at initial contact was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.87-1.06; P = .47). At the instant of maximum knee-flexion angle, the unadjusted odds ratio was 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02-1.10; P = .01), and the odds ratio was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.98-1.07; P = .29) after adjusting for sex. This suggests that there was not a significant enough association for an increase in the odds of BSI based on either degree of knee valgus.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results did not demonstrate an association between knee valgus angle data during a jump-landing task and future increased odds of BSI in a military training population. Further analysis is warranted, but the results suggests the association between kinematics and BSI cannot be effectively screened by knee valgus angle data in isolation.

Association Between Automated Landing Error Scoring System Performance and Bone Stress Injury Risk in Military Trainees

CONTEXT

Lower extremity bone stress injuries (BSI) place a significant burden on the health and readiness of the US Armed Forces.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if pre-injury baseline performance on an expanded and automated 22-item version of the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS-22) is associated with the incidence of BSI in a military training population.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

US Military Academy at West Point Participants: 2,235 (510 females, 22.8%) incoming cadets Main outcome measures: Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to produce adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) to quantify the association between pre-injury LESS scores and BSI incidence rate during follow-up, adjusted for pertinent risk factors. Risk factors were included as covariates in the final model if the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the crude IRR did not contain 1.00.

RESULTS

A total of 54 BSI occurred during the study period, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.07 BSI per 1,000 person-days (95% CI: 0.05, 0.09). The mean number of exposure days was 345.4 (SD 61.12, range 3-368). The final model was adjusted for sex and BMI and yielded an adjusted IRR for LESS-22 score of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.002, 1.13; p=0.04), indicating that each additional LESS error documented at baseline was associated with a 6.0% increase in the incidence rate of BSI during the follow-up period. In addition, six individual LESS-22 items, including two newly added items, were significantly associated with BSI incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that performance on the expanded and automated version of the LESS is associated with BSI incidence in a military training population. These results suggest that the automated LESS-22 may be a scalable solution for screening military training populations for BSI risk.

The injury risk profile of an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps population: A preliminary descriptive study

OBJECTIVES

Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) prepares cadets for military service where lower extremity injuries can occur. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance (YBAL) have not been used to evaluate injury risk in the ROTC. Higher physical fitness lowers injury risk in basic training recruits, it is unknown if previous high school sport participation affects injury risk in the ROTC. The purpose of this study was to evaluation the LESS, FMS, YBAL and high school sport participation in the ROTC.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

SETTING

University.

PARTICIPANTS

78 ROTC (49 males, 29 females; 19.7 ± 2.3yrs; 1.71 ± 10.1 m; 62.5 ± 21.2 kg).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

LESS, FMS, YBAL and sports participation were collected and scores were calculated. Means, standard deviation and range were reported for each test. Distribution of scores within injury risk categories were evaluated. Sport participation frequency was reported.

RESULTS

The mean LESS and FMS scores were 7.1 ± 2.1 and 14.6 ± 2.1, respectively. The average YBAL composite score was 90.2% ± 12.0. 68% were poor on the LESS. 46.1% were high risk on the FMS. 69.2% were high risk on the YBAL composite. Seventy-seven percent reported at least one year of participation in high school sports.

CONCLUSIONS

ROTC population demonstrated poor jump landing mechanics and were high risk on the YBAL composite.