title: Risk factors for lower leg, ankle and foot injuries during basic military training in the Maltese Armed Forces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Basic military training is physically and psychologically demanding placing recruits at high risk of injury and premature discharge. This study aimed to identify risk factors for lower leg, ankle and foot injury in Maltese military recruits during basic training.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An armed forces barracks.
  
  
  METHODS
  127 recruits commencing one basic military training course agreed to participate in the study. The cohort comprised 114 males and 13 females with a mean age of 21.7 ± 2.4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  All injuries to the lower leg, ankle and foot were recorded using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System. Injuries were analysed for associations with fitness scores, smoking status, body mass index and foot type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34 (26.2%) recruits sustained at least one injury, with 10 recruits (7.9%) terminating their training prematurely (three due to musculoskeletal injury). Smoking history, body mass index and foot type were not associated with injury risk. Lower fitness levels at the commencement of basic military training compared with fitness levels measured six months prior, were associated with higher injury risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower fitness at the commencement of basic training was associated with higher injury risk in army recruits. Thus, conditioning programmes aimed at improving recruit fitness should be considered within an injury prevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces of Malta, Medical Centre, Luqa Barracks, Malta. Electronic address: mjpsaila@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Psaila
authors.affiliation: Sports Injury Research Group, Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ranson
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta; D008889:Military Personnel; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Basic military training; Body mass index; Foot type; Pre-conditioning; Recruits; Smoking