Screening initial entry training trainees for postural faults and low back or hip pain.
BACKGROUND
The frequency of postural faults and postural awareness in military trainees has not been assessed.


METHODS
Five hundred Soldiers entering Advanced Individual Training were screened for standing posture and completed an anonymous questionnaire during inprocessing.


RESULTS
Postural faults were identified in 202 subjects. Chi square analysis demonstrated a relationship between posture observed and posture reported: 87% of subjects with postural faults were unaware of postural faults; 12% with proper posture reported having poor posture. Subjects reported comparable frequencies of back pain and hip pain with postural faults (33.2%, 21.2%) and without faults (28.5%, 14.7%). Anonymous reporting was higher than formal reporting and requests for care during the same period (37% vs 3.4%).
168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, US Forces Korea.
John R
JR
Lane
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology