DOI: 10.1249/tjx.0000000000000391 ISSN: 2379-2868

Functional Movement Changes in U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Training: Implications for Injury Prevention Program Design

Sarah J. de la Motte, Carolyn E. Dartt, Emily A. Ricker
Show PDF Cite

Introduction:

We evaluated the influence of infantry training and musculoskeletal injury (MSK-I) on movement proficiency in Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) Marines at the School of Infantry-West. Our goal was to identify specific movement patterns that could be targeted in Injury Prevention and Exercise Programs (IPEP).

Methods:

In this co-designed longitudinal cohort study, male Marines ( N = 314, age = 19.7 ± 1.7 yr) responded to surveys and performed movement proficiency tasks pre- and post-ITB: the Functional Movement Screen’s In-Line Lunge (ILL), Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR), and Trunk Stability Push-Up; modified Balance Error Scoring System; Landing Error Scoring System-22; and overhead squat and single-leg squat. Movement scores were dichotomized based on poor/good performance. Generalized estimating equations with a logit link function assessed main and interactive effects of time and self-reported MSK-I during ITB on movement scores.

Results:

Post-ITB, 14% of Marines reported sustaining ≥1 MSK-I during ITB. Marines with MSK-I during ITB had 9.3 times the odds (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9–22.5) of scoring poorly/having pain on post-ITB ILL compared with uninjured Marines ( P < 0.001). Marines with MSK-I during ITB had 3.5 times the odds (95% CI: 1.7–7.2) of poor ASLR at either time point compared with uninjured Marines ( P = 0.001). All Marines had 2.1 times the odds (95% CI: 1.3–4.5) of poor ASLR ( P = 0.004) and 3.5 times the odds (95% CI: 1.2–9.9) of poor trunk stability push-up ( P = 0.018) post-ITB versus pre-ITB. We developed the Tactical 10 as part of an ITB-specific IPEP to address affected movement patterns, focusing on neuromuscular exercises for flexibility, mobility, and proper biomechanics in a daily integrated warm-up and cool down.

Conclusion:

Marines who self-reported MSK-I during training had poorer ASLR at both pre- and post-ITB, as well as poorer ILL post-ITB, possibly indicating deficits in lower extremity flexibility and core stability. IPEP exercises emphasized activities to improve affected patterns, serving as a model for other settings.

More from our Archive