Quantifying tibial shock during military foot drill training

Abstract

Introduction: Foot drill, characterised by frequent heel stamping, is a key component of military training and has shown to result in high tibial accelerations when measured in the laboratory. Higher tibial accelerations during running have been associated with increased risk of lower limb stress fractures. Tibial stress fractures are a common injury amongst military recruits and therefore, quantification of tibial shock during foot drill training is warranted. The purpose of this study was to provide estimates of tibial shock during foot drill using tibial accelerometry in British Army basic military training.