Organized Training Routines and Utilization of Injury Prevention Practices in Collegiate ROTC

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the ROTC population, most musculoskeletal injuries occur during physical training (PT). However, no study has assessed the organized physical training routines among ROTC divisions. Without an assessment of physical training routines, injury prevention practices may be limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the organized training routines and utilization of injury prevention practices among collegiate U.S Military Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study utilized a 23-question survey to assess the organized physical training routines and the utilization of injury prevention practices among 62 collegiate cadets at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Outcomes were compared between groups using Fisher’s exact test. Statistical significance was set a priori at α = 0.05, two-sided. RESULTS: Forty-nine (79.0%) cadets reported that they participate in organized physical training 1-4 hours per week, 54 (87.1%) stated that they their military branch, unit, command leader, or ROTC program promotes injury prevention, and 8 (12.9%) cadets stated their military branch, unit, command leader, or ROTC program does not promote injury prevention. The majority of cadets stated that they consume protein 1-hour following organized training, but carbohydrate consumption is minimal. CONCLUSION: ROTC cadets are meeting the minimum American Heart Association physical activity guidelines for adults. This study provides evidence that suggest that some injury prevention practices are not as practical in collegiate ROTC setting, such as the utilization of neuromuscular injury prevention practices. Enhancing educational components of ROTC training based on the results of this study may assist in optimizing injury prevention and performance in this population