Risk factors for injury associated with low, moderate, and high mileage road marching in a U.S. Army infantry brigade

Anna Schuh-Renner; Tyson L Grier; Michelle Canham-Chervak; Veronique D Hauschild; Tanja C Roy; Jeremy Fletcher; Bruce H Jones

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2017.07.027

Risk factors for injury associated with low, moderate, and high mileage road marching in a U.S. Army infantry brigade

J Sci Med Sport. 2017 Nov:20 Suppl 4:S28-S33. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.07.027. Epub 2017 Aug 24.

Authors

Anna Schuh-Renner¹, Tyson L Grier², Michelle Canham-Chervak², Veronique D Hauschild², Tanja C Roy², Jeremy Fletcher³, Bruce H Jones²

Affiliations

¹ U.S. Army Public Health Center, Injury Prevention Division, USA. Electronic address: anna.s.renner.civ@mail.mil.
² U.S. Army Public Health Center, Injury Prevention Division, USA.
³ University of South Alabama, Department of Physical Therapy, Pat Capps Covey College of Allied Health Professions, USA.

PMID: 28986087
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.07.027

Abstract

Objectives: Road marching is an important physical training activity that prepares soldiers for a common occupational task. Continued exploration of risk factors for road marching-related injuries is needed. This analysis has assessed the association between modifiable characteristics of physical training and injury risk.

Methods: Injuries in the previous 6 months were captured by survey from 831 U.S. Army infantry soldiers. Road marching-related injuries were reported as those attributed to road marching on foot for specified distances while carrying equipment. Frequencies, means, and relative risk ratios (RR) for road marching-related injury with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI were calculated for leading risk factors using multivariable logistic regression.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Results: Half (50%) of reported injuries were attributed to road marching or running. When miles of exposure were considered, injury risk during road marching was higher than during running (RR_{road marching/running}=1.8, 95% CI: 1.38-2.37). A higher product of road marching distance and weight worn (pound-miles per month) resulted in greater injury risk (RR_{≥1473 pound-miles/<1472}=1.92, 95% CI: 1.17-2.41). Road marching-related injuries were associated with carrying a load >25% of one's body weight (OR_>25%/1-20%=2.09, 95% CI: 1.08-4.05), having high occupational lifting demands (OR_{50-100+lbs/25-50lbs}=3.43, 95% CI: 1.50-7.85), road marching ≥5 times per month (OR_{≥5 times/4 times}=2.11, 95% CI: 1.14-3.91), and running <4 miles per week during personal physical training (OR_{0/≥10 miles/week}=3.56, 95% CI: 1.49-8.54, OR_{1-4/≥10 miles/week}=4.14, 95% CI: 1.85-9.25).

Conclusions: Ideally, attempts should be made to decrease the percentage of body weight carried to reduce road marching-related injuries. Since this is not always operationally feasible, reducing the cumulative overloading from both physical training and occupational tasks may help prevent injury.

Keywords: Back injuries; Foot marching; Load carriage; Military personnel; Occupational injuries; Overuse injury.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Humans
Lifting / adverse effects
Male
Military Personnel*
Occupational Injuries / etiology
Occupational Injuries / prevention & control*
Physical Fitness*
Risk Factors
Running / injuries*
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
Walking / injuries*