PREVENTION OF LOWER-LIMB PAIN IN SOLDIERS USING SHOCK-ABSORBING ORTHOTIC INSERTS

The utility of shock-absorbing boot and sneaker inserts for reducing t he occurrence of lower limb pain among male US Army basic trainees was evaluated, Every other training unit was given inserts. The inserts w ere issued prior to the start of training when combat boots and sneake rs were fitted. According to post-training questionnaires and the part icipants' medical records, the inserts did not have any preventive eff ect on occurrence of lower limb problems during training. Five hundred seventeen trainees were issued inserts, 397 were followed but not iss ued inserts, and 218 were not issued inserts but purchased them on the ir own. Thirty-eight percent of those issued inserts had lower limb pa in problems compared with 29% of those not issued inserts and 38% of t hose who bought their own, There was no statistical difference between these rates of occurrence. Prior to training, there were minor differ ences between the groups' scores on physical fitness test scores and r un times, These differences disappeared during training so that there were no differences among the groups on either training or clinical va riables during or after basic training.