title: Role of gymnastics in the Army School of Physical Training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As a result of a single spinal injury seen at Frimley Park Hospital, we reviewed the injuries recorded at the Army School of Physical Training since December 1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective review of all acute accidents and injuries recorded in the Accident Book since its inception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 75% of the injuries that were serious enough to result in soldiers having their training terminated were as a direct result of gymnastic events such as vaulting, trampolining and somersaults. These events were also responsible for most of the small number of career-threatening injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This raises questions about the inclusion of gymnastic events in course training programmes, especially when considering its relevance to army training in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley, Surrey, UK. dylgrif@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hargrove
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clasper
mesh_terms: D006173:Gymnastics / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology