title: Soldier occupational load carriage: a narrative review of associated injuries.
abstract: This narrative review examines injuries sustained by soldiers undertaking occupational load carriage tasks. Military soldiers are required to carry increasingly heavier occupational loads. These loads have been found to increase the physiological cost to the soldier and alter their gait mechanics. Aggregated research findings suggest that the lower limbs are the most frequent anatomical site of injury associated with load carriage. While foot blisters are common, other prevalent lower limb injuries include stress fractures, knee and foot pain, and neuropathies, like digitalgia and meralgia. Shoulder neuropathies (brachial plexus palsy) and lower back injuries are not uncommon. Soldier occupational load carriage has the potential to cause injuries that impact on force generation and force sustainment. Through understanding the nature of these injuries targeted interventions, like improved physical conditioning and support to specialised organisations, can be employed.
authors.affiliation: a Bond Institute of Health and Sport , Bond University , Gold Coast , QLD 4229 , Australia.
authors.forename: Robin Marc
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Venerina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coyle
mesh_terms: D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: injury; injury prevention; load carriage; military