Exercise-related injury profile amongst recruits during basic military training in 3 South African Infantry Battalion at Kimberley

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2013-07
Authors
Van der Westhuizen, Eléne
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The aim of the study was to assess the injury profile of recruits during BMT at 3 SAI Bn Kimberley. The study objectives were to identify and describe the demography, socio-economic status and medical history of these recruits, as well as the type and mechanism of exercise-related injuries among them. The design involved a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design with a self-reported questionnaire as data collection technique. The demography of the recruits indicated a large majority of Blacks (83%) with very few Coloureds, Whites and Indians. The gender distribution was 46.9% (n=173) female and 53.1% male (n=196). Gender (P=2.351E-10) statistically contributed to injuries. Participants had significantly better socio-economic living standards than the average South African. The overall injury prevalence was reported as 25%, of which 19% were reported by female and 6% by male participants. Injury rates were the highest during weeks 3-4 of the BMT programme. Smoking, contraception use, amenorrhea and miscarriages prior to BMT were not found to be statistically significant injury risk factors. Being unfit was indicated as a statistically significant risk factor for injuries (P=0.0091). Having participated in sport (P=0.0296), and specifically in weight–bearing types of sport (P=0.0023), was found to have significantly reduced injuries. Females experienced higher stress levels which made a statistically significant (p=0.0034) contribution to injury prevalence. The most frequent sites of injury were the knee (40%), ankle (19%). lower leg (13%) and lower back (9%). Hydration and nutrition, as well as warm-up activities to prevent injuries were investigated. The biomechanical aspects that were reported, inter alia, indicated that the majority of the respondents had sustained injuries during activities which entailed running or falling, and most sustained muscle/tendon dislocation injuries during obstacle course training (P=0.0178). The questions regarding back-packs and external loads revealed that these did not have an impact on the prevalence of injuries. Environmental risk factor responses regarding the weather indicated that it was found very hot during training, but neither rain nor wind played a role in the injuries. The terrain mostly contributed to ligament injuries (P=0.0063) which occurred in the afternoon, especially in the middle of the training programme. The recommendations are aimed at establishing task teams to consider pre-enlistment fitness criteria, as well as remedial fitness training. Other recommendations deal with a balanced physical fitness programme, injury control programmes, and health promotion programmes. Attention is also paid to smoking, stress factors, communicable disease transmission; haemoglobin screening and the use of sun block.
Afrikaans: Die doel van die studie was om die beseringsprofiel van rekrute by 3 SAI Bn tydens BMO te bepaal. Die doelwitte was om die demografie, sosio-ekonomiese status en mediese geskiedenis van hierdie rekrute, asook die tipe en meganisme van oefening-verwante beserings wat hulle opgedoen het, te identifiseer en te beskryf. „n Kwantitatiewe, nie-eksperimentele, beskrywende ontwerp is vir die navorsing gebruik, en „n vraelys wat deur die respondente self voltooi is, is as data- insamelingstegniek aangewend. Die demografie van die rekrute het aangedui dat die oorgrote meerderheid (83%) swart was, met slegs enkele Kleurlinge, blankes en Indiërs. Die geslagsverpreiding was 46.9% (n=173) vroulik en 53.1% manlik (n=196). Geslag (P=2.351E-10) het statisties bygedra tot beserings. Respondente het aansienlike verbeterde sosio- ekonomiese lewenstandaard as die gemiddelde Suid-Afrikaner gehad. Die algehele voorkoms van beserings soos aangemeld was 25%, waarvan 19% deur vroulike en 6% deur manlike rekrute aangemeld is. Die beseringskoers was op sy hoogste gedurende weke 3-4 van die BMO-program. Rook, voorbehoedmiddels, amenorree en miskrame is nie statisties as betekenisvolle faktore in beseringsrisiko bevind nie. Onfiksheid is wel bewys as „n statisties betekenisvolle risikofaktor vir beserings (P=0.0091). Deelname aan sport (P=0.0296), en veral gewigdraende sport (P=0.0023), het volgens die bevindinge betekenisvol bygedra tot „n afname in beserings. Vroulike rekrute het hoër stresvlakke ervaar, wat statisties betekenisvol (p=0.0034) bygedra het tot die voorkoms van beserings. Die beserings wat die algemeenste voorgekom het, was knie- (40%), enkel- (19%), onderbeen- (13%) en laerugbeserings (9%). Hidrasie en voeding, asook opwarmingsaktiwiteite om beserings te voorkom, is ook ondersoek. Die biomeganiese aspekte wat vermeld is, het onder andere aangedui dat die meeste van die respondente beserings opgedoen het tydens aktiwiteite wat met hardloop of val gepaardgegaan het, en die meeste het spier-/tendonbeserings en verstuitings/ ontwrigtings gedurende opleiding op die hindernisbaan (P=0.0178) opgedoen. Die vraelysitems aangaande die rugsakke en ander vrag wat hulle moes dra, het response gelewer wat daarop dui dat dit nie „n impak op die voorkoms van beserings gehad het nie. In die kategorie Omgewingsrisikofaktore het response rakende die weersomstandighede daarop gedui dat die respondente dit as baie warm ervaar het tydens opleiding, maar dat nóg reën, nóg wind „n rol by beserings gespeel het. Die terrein was die grootste bydraende faktor tot ligamentbeserings (P=0.0063), wat in die namiddag plaasgevind het, en veral in die middel van die opleidingsprogram. Die aanbevelings behels dat taakspanne aangewys moet word om kriteria te oorweeg om rekrute se fiksheid te bepaal voordat hulle aansluit, en ook om remediërende fiksheidsopleiding te oorweeg. Ander aanbevelings hou verband met ‘n gebalanseerde fisiese fiksheidsprogram, beseringsbeheerprogramme, en gesondheidsbevorderings-programme. Aandag word ook geskenk aan die rookgewoonte, stresfaktore, die oordrag van aansteeklike siektes, hemoglobiensifting, en die gebruik van son-afweermiddels.
Description
Keywords
Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Nursing))--University of the Free State, 2013, Wounds and injuries, Physical education and training, Military, Military cadets -- Wounds and injuries -- South Africa -- Kimberley, Basic military training, Musculoskeletal risk factor, Exercise-related injury
Citation