Prolonged Treadmill Load Carriage: Acute Injuries and Changes in Foot Anthropometry.

摘要

The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the distribution of injuries occurring during loaded treadmill marching, (2) determine if there are significant anthropometric changes that occur in the foot during this marching, and (3) identify variables (speed, load) that may affect these injuries and foot changes. This study documented a large number of minor injuries (N equals 82) among physically fit soldiers marching on a treadmill at fast speeds and over a long distance with heavy loads. Significant pre-to-post foot anthropometric changes (P less than .05) were observed in ball of foot and instep circumferences with a tendency for these changes to occur with the heavier loads while ankle circumference changes occurred throughout most of the conditions. The results of this study indicate that: (1) load carriage injuries occurring during a prolonged treadmill march primarily involve the lower extremities and back, (2) foot blisters were the most common injury recorded, (3) the standard Army practice of using foot powder and undergoing frequent sock changes does not prevent blister formation during prolonged treadmill marches, (4) the most common types of back injury was upper back straining.