title: The effect of a modified physical training program in reducing injury and medical discharge rates in Australian Army recruits.
abstract: This uncontrolled observational study examined the injury and medical discharge outcomes in 318 female and 1,634 male recruits as a result of changes to the Australian Army recruit physical training program. Changes included cessation of road runs, introduction of 400- to 800-m interval training, reduction in test run distance from 5 to 2.4 km, standardization of route marches, and the introduction of deep-water running. There was a 46.6% reduction in the rate of total injury presentation (chi 2 = 14.31, p = 0.0002) after the change. The annual rate of male medical discharges decreased 40.8% from 81.1/1,000 recruits in 1994/1995 to 47.0/1,000 recruits in 1995/1996 (chi 2 = 26.33, p = 0.0001). Female rates increased 58.3% from 104/1,000 recruits to 164.2/1,000 recruits (chi 2 = 6.09, p = 0.014). The decrease in the male medical discharge rate resulted in an estimated saving of $1,267,805 Australian. Bone scans were reduced by 50%, resulting in an estimated annual saving of $61,539 Australian. The disparity between male and female injury rates is a concern. The merits of mixed-gender physical training should be reviewed in the light of these observations, and the establishment of initial entry fitness standards for recruit training may need to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Canberra Area Medical Unit, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rudzki
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D017046:Cost Savings; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*