Comparison of injury rates between cadets with limb length inequalities and matched control subjects over 1 year of military training and athletic participation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare lower-limb overuse injury and low back pain incidence among cadets with and without limb length inequality (LLI) over 1 year of military training and athletic participation.


METHODS
A total of 1,100 cadets were screened for LLIs; 126 of 1,100 were identified to have a LLI of > 0.5 cm and were assigned a matched control cadet. Injury rates, numbers of visits to sick call, and numbers of days spent on medical excusal during a 1-year period were then compared for the 252 cadets.


RESULTS
There was no difference in prevalence of injury between the groups and no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the groups in injury rates, visits to sick call, or number of days spent on medical excusal.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not support any increased incidence of injuries in a young, healthy, athletic, military population with mild LLIs, compared with matched control subjects without LLIs, over 1 year.
Goss
Donald Lee
DL
Physical Therapy-Sports Medicine Services, U.S. Army Health Clinic-Struttgart, Stuttgart, Germany, APO AE 09128.
Moore
Josef H
JH
Slivka
Erin M
EM
Hatler
Brian S
BS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D038061:Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States