title: Effect on injuries of assigning shoes based on foot shape in air force basic training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined whether assigning running shoes based on the shape of the bottom of the foot (plantar surface) influenced injury risk in Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) and examined risk factors for injury in BMT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from BMT recruits during 2007; analysis took place during 2008. After foot examinations, recruits were randomly consigned to either an experimental group (E, n=1042 men, 375 women) or a control group (C, n=913 men, 346 women). Experimental group recruits were assigned motion control, stability, or cushioned shoes for plantar shapes indicative of low, medium, or high arches, respectively. Control group recruits received a stability shoe regardless of plantar shape. Injuries during BMT were determined from outpatient visits provided from the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Other injury risk factors (fitness, smoking, physical activity, prior injury, menstrual history, and demographics) were obtained from a questionnaire, existing databases, or BMT units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate Cox regression controlling for other risk factors showed little difference in injury risk between the groups among men (hazard ratio [E/C]=1.11, 95% CI=0.89-1.38) or women (hazard ratio [E/C]=1.20, 95% CI= 0.90-1.60). Independent injury risk factors among both men and women included low aerobic fitness and cigarette smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective study demonstrated that assigning running shoes based on the shape of the plantar surface had little influence on injury risk in BMT even after controlling for other injury risk factors.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, USA. joseph.knapik@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Knapik
authors.forename: Lorie C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Brosch
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venuto
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Swedler
authors.forename: Steven H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: Lorraine S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Gaines
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Juste
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tchandja
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D012775:Shoes / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult