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Gibbs J, Power CNT, Böhning D, Warner M, Downie S, Allsopp A, Stokes M, Fallowfield JL. Assessing injury risk in male and female Royal Navy recruits: does the Functional Movement Screen provide understanding to inform effective injury mitigation? BMJ Mil Health 2023:e002416. [PMID: 38053278 DOI: 10.1136/military-2023-002416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are common during military and other occupational physical training programmes, and employers have a duty of care to mitigate this injury risk. MSKIs account for a high number of working days lost during initial military training, contribute to training attrition and impact training costs. Poorer movement quality may be associated with increased MSKI risk. METHODS The present study evaluated the relationship between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Score, as a measure of movement quality, and injury risk in Royal Navy (RN) recruits. A cohort of 957 recruits was assessed using the FMS prior to the 10-week phase I training programme. Injury occurrence, time, type and severity were recorded prospectively during the training period. RESULTS Total FMS Score was associated with injury risk (p≤0.001), where recruits scoring ≥13 were 2.6 times more likely to sustain an injury during training. However, FMS Score accounted for only 10% of the variance in injury risk (R2=0.1). Sex was the only additional variable to significantly affect the regression model. Mean FMS Scores for men (14.6±2.3) and women (14.4±2.4) were similar, but injury occurrence in women was 1.7 times greater than in men. Examining the influence of individual FMS movement tests on injury prediction did not improve the model, where those movements that significantly contributed to injury prediction only accounted for a small amount of the variance (R2=0.01). CONCLUSION There was a weak relationship between FMS and injury risk in RN recruits. Evidence is provided that FMS score alone would not be appropriate to use as an injury prediction tool in military recruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gibbs
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, UK
| | - C N T Power
- Department of Sport and Health, Solent University, Southampton, UK
| | - D Böhning
- Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - M Warner
- University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
| | - S Downie
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, Hampshire, UK
| | - A Allsopp
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, Hampshire, UK
| | - M Stokes
- University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire, UK
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House C, Stacey M, Woods D, Allsopp A, Roiz de Sa D. Procedure for assessing patients referred to the UK's military Heat Illness Clinic: a case series. BMJ Mil Health 2023; 169:310-315. [PMID: 34266969 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The UK military operates a Heat Illness Clinic (HIC) to aid the return to exercise, training and occupational duty recommendations for individuals who have suffered exertional heat illness or heatstroke. This paper describes the process of assessment and reports representative data from n=22 patients referred to the HIC. METHOD The assessment included clinical consultation, and measurement of maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) and a heat tolerance test (HTT) conducted on a treadmill in an environmental chamber with an air temperature of 34°C and 44% relative humidity. Patients began the HTT wearing military clothing, carrying a rucksack (mass 15 kg) and walking at 60% V̇O2max, at 30 min the rucksack and jacket were removed and the T-shirt at 45 min, individuals continued walking for 60-90 min. Patients were considered heat tolerant if rectal temperature achieved a plateau. RESULTS N=14 patients were heat tolerant on the first assessment and of the n=8 patients required to return for repeat assessment, five were heat tolerant on the second assessment and the remaining three on the third assessment. CONCLUSIONS In conjunction with patient history and clinical evaluation, the HTT provides a physiological basis to assist with decisions concerning patient management and return to duty following an episode of heat illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol House
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, UK
- School of Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - M Stacey
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
- Research and Clinical Innovation, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK
| | - D Woods
- Research and Clinical Innovation, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK
- Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Leisure, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
- Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - A Allsopp
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, UK
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Rice H, Fallowfield J, Allsopp A, Dixon S. Altered forefoot function following a military training activity. Gait Posture 2019; 74:182-186. [PMID: 31539799 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injury rates are high in populations that regularly undertake weight-bearing physical activity, particularly military populations. Military training activities, that often include load carriage, have been associated with lower limb injury occurrence, specifically stress fractures. RESEARCH QUESTION Recent work identified plantar loading variables as risk factors for lower limb stress fractures in Royal Marines recruits that were assessed during barefoot running. This study aimed to quantify how those plantar loading variables changed in Royal Marines recruits following a prolonged military load carriage activity, to further understand potential mechanisms for lower limb stress fractures. METHODS Bilateral, synchronised plantar pressure and lower limb kinematic data were recorded during barefoot running at 3.6 m s-1 (±5%) pre- and post- a 12.8-km training activity (∼150 min). The training activity was completed with an average speed typical of walking (1.4 m.s-1), and 35.5 kg of additional load was carried throughout. Data were collected from 32 male Royal Marines recruits who completed the training activity in week-21 of the 32-week training programme. Plantar pressure variables and ankle dorsiflexion were compared between pre- and post-activity. RESULTS Post-activity there was reduced loading under the forefoot and increased loading under the rearfoot and midfoot. There was no change in dorsiflexion touchdown angle, but an increase in peak dorsiflexion and range of motion post-activity. SIGNIFICANCE The increased rearfoot loading, reduced forefoot loading and increased ankle dorsiflexion following a prolonged military load carriage activity suggest a reduced transfer of loading from the rearfoot to the forefoot during stance, which may have implications for the development of stress fractures, particularly of the metatarsals.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Rice
- Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - J Fallowfield
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport, PO12, UK
| | - A Allsopp
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport, PO12, UK
| | - S Dixon
- Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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Jauneikaite E, Ferguson T, Mosavie M, Fallowfield JL, Davey T, Thorpe N, Allsopp A, Shaw AM, Fudge D, O'Shea MK, Wilson D, Morgan M, Pichon B, Kearns AM, Sriskandan S, Lamb LE. Staphylococcus aureus colonization and acquisition of skin and soft tissue infection among Royal Marines recruits: a prospective cohort study. Clin Microbiol Infect 2019; 26:381.e1-381.e6. [PMID: 31357012 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a serious health issue for military personnel. Of particular importance are those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL)-positive S. aureus (PVL-SA), as they have been associated with outbreaks of SSTIs. A prospective observational study was conducted in Royal Marine (RM) recruits to investigate the prevalence of PVL-SA carriage and any association with SSTIs. METHODS A total of 1012 RM recruits were followed through a 32-week training programme, with nose and throat swabs obtained at weeks 1, 6, 15 and 32. S. aureus isolates were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility testing, spa typing, presence of mecA/C and PVL genes. Retrospective review of the clinical notes for SSTI acquisition was conducted. RESULTS S. aureus colonization decreased from Week 1 to Week 32 (41% to 26%, p < 0.0001). Of 1168 S. aureus isolates, three out of 1168 (0.3%) were MRSA and ten out of 1168 (0.9%) PVL-positive (all MSSA) and 169 out of 1168 (14.5%) were resistant to clindamycin. Isolates showed genetic diversity with 238 different spa types associated with 25 multi-locus sequence type (MLST) clonal complexes. SSTIs were seen in 35% (351/989) of recruits with 3 training days lost per recruit. SSTI acquisition rate was reduced amongst persistent carriers (p < 0.0283). CONCLUSIONS Nose and throat carriage of MRSA and PVL-SA was low among recruits, despite a high incidence of SSTIs being reported, particularly cellulitis. Carriage strains were predominantly MSSA with a marked diversity of genotypes. Persistent nose and/or throat carriage was not associated with SSTI acquisition. Putative person-to-person transmission within troops was identified based on spa typing requiring further research to confirm and explore potential transmission routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Jauneikaite
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-associated Infections, Imperial College London, London, UK; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - T Ferguson
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - M Mosavie
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-associated Infections, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - T Davey
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, UK
| | - N Thorpe
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, UK
| | - A Allsopp
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, UK
| | - A M Shaw
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, UK
| | - D Fudge
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research and Academia), Birmingham, UK
| | - M K O'Shea
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research and Academia), Birmingham, UK; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - D Wilson
- Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research and Academia), Birmingham, UK
| | - M Morgan
- Department of Microbiology, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK
| | - B Pichon
- Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - A M Kearns
- Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Division, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - S Sriskandan
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-associated Infections, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - L E Lamb
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Research and Academia), Birmingham, UK; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
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